Bryce Mitchell is willing to step up against Movsar Evloev, but he wants time.
Evloev (18-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) needs a new opponent for UFC 307 on Oct. 5 after Aljamain Sterling withdrew due to injury. Mitchell is down for the fight, but as long as he gets time to prep.
However, Mitchell (16-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) won’t make the mistake of taking another short-notice fight after he got knocked out cold by Josh Emmett at UFC 296 in December.
“(Sterling) hurt his elbow,” Mitchell told The Schmo. “You know what happened last time I took one on short notice. It was ugly. I’m wise enough to respect that I need a little bit more training. I want that fight. Give me two months, I’m down. That’s all I need.
“Two months, and I think that’s fair to ask. And if he really wants that fight, two months is not that long of a wait for what they’re paying him. He can survive two more months without a paycheck. I think he should fight me in two months.”
Mitchell clarifies that he wouldn’t take the fight away from Sterling, and would only fight Evloev if the unbeaten contender wasn’t willing to wait for too long. The pair were scheduled to fight on two occasions – UFC Fight Night 214, then UFC 288, but both fell apart.
“But also, I don’t want to take the fight from Aljo,” Mitchell said. “I wouldn’t take the fight from Aljo. I’m buddies with Aljo. So if Aljo don’t want to fight him in a couple of months because he needs more time and they need somebody, I’m the dude.
“There’s not a bigger draw. Who else are you going to get to fight Movsar that will fill up seats? Let’s be realistic: I’m going to bring the people there. People want to see me fight Movsar, I want to kick his ass because he’s being a little b*stard to me.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.
