Patchy Mix is confident that his Tatiana Suarez will prevail at UFC 312.
Suarez (11-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) challenges strawweight champion Zhang Weili (25-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).
In her corner will be her fiancee, Bellator bantamweight champion Mix, who’s ready to see Suarez realize her dream, just as she did for him when he won the Bellator grand prix.
“The million dollars for me was amazing, I was able to help my family,” Mix told MMA Junkie Radio. “I love Tatiana so much, she will be my wife. She’s my fiancee now, I’ve been with her for close to four years. I think this one will mean even more than that to me to be honest with you. Helping her, seeing the adversity she went through, seeing her struggle, that sh*t almost brings a tear to my eye when I think about it. That’s why I try to help her the way I do, that’s why I’m here, I got her back 100 percent.
“(At UFC 312), we’re all going to bat for her, but I would go to bat for Tatiana like I would go to bat for nobody in this world besides my family, my daughter. So, I think it will mean so much even more than winning for me to see her not get compensated, not get the shiny belt. Just for her to achieve her goals that she wanted because she set out to achieve this goal so long ago, and I know how much it means to her, and I know how hard she has worked so, it means so much.”
Despite being the challenger, Suarez enters her first title against dominant champ Weili as the betting favorite according to most oddsmakers. Mix doesn’t need that reassurance, because he’s had a front row seat to Suarez’s year of hard work and overcoming adversity.
“People ask if I’m nervous, Tatiana has worked so f*cking hard for this fight, she’s so dedicated, so consistent that I’m not worried,” Mix continued. “I’m worried about her opponent. I’m worried for her opponent.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 312.
