Bryce Mitchell and Kron Gracie, UFC 310 ceremonial weigh-in Credit score: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press
Featherweights Bryce Mitchell and Kron Gracie each made their return at UFC 310, in one thing of a stunning main-card match-up.
With names like Chris Weidman and Aljamain Sterling on the prelims, the billing of Mitchell vs. Gracie alone stood out. Then there was Mitchell, nonetheless ranked #13 within the 145lb division after a 12 months away, preventing an unranked opponent with simply seven fights to his title. Nonetheless, Kron Gracie is a Gracie, and the concept of some slick exchanges on the mat little question motivated the matchmakers to ebook this one.
Throughout the first minute each fighters discovered themselves within the clinch, with Gracie pulling guard. Mitchell began throwing punches whereas in full guard, as Gracie looked for a gap. Every rivals remained in the identical place for the remainder of the spherical as Mitchell labored punches to the physique of Gracie till the bell. The Arkansas native Mitchell was additionally a BJJ blackbelt and was defending effectively in opposition to the submissions threats of Gracie by means of 5 minutes.
To open the second, each fighters exchanged wild punches earlier than Gracie once more pulled guard with 4 minutes remaining within the spherical. Once more the struggle stalled in full guard as Mitchell remained in prime place. Then immediately out of nowhere Gracie threw up his legs making an attempt an armbar; Mitchell labored out of it however discovered himself in a triangle. Gracie once more transitioned to an armbar that regarded very deep. Mitchell was in a position to work his means out of the risk and land floor and pound till the bell. Wild grappling exchanges in spherical two introduced life again to the Las Vegas crowd.
Within the third, Mitchell landed a couple of massive punches earlier than the struggle once more hit the bottom. This time Mitchell positioned himself to land a slam on Gracie after Kron pulled guard, then threw a large elbow that landed flush on the temple. Gracie was separated from consciousness, laying stiff on the bottom because the referee stopped the struggle. An enormous second for the within the profession of Mitchell, who bought again into the win column after his devastating defeat to Josh Emmett. The legendary Gracie household hasn’t had a viable title contender within the UFC in many years, as Kron dropped his third straight.
Official Outcome: Bryce Mitchell def. Kron Gracie by KO (slam and elbows), Spherical 3, 0:39
