UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell opened the latest podcast episode with a notable admission: a doctor has told him to stop drinking because of brain damage sustained during his combat career.
Sitting with a non-alc**olic Heineken in hand, Mitchell explained his new beverage choice to listeners right away.
“I got too much brain damage,” he said. “The doctor said I can’t drink.”
He noted he would be moving on to raw milk after finishing the zero-percent beer, a dietary staple he has spoken about repeatedly on the show.
Mitchell, who has been on the UFC roster since 2018, has taken part in several high-level bouts, and the guidance points to the cumulative nature of head trauma in combat sports. Despite the restriction, Mitchell appears in good spirits and is keeping himself busy on the competition circuit.
He announced during the episode that a grappling match is set against Mikey Musumeci, whom he described as one of the best jiu-jitsu competitors of all time.
“This dude ain’t no joke, and he’s going to try to submit me,” Mitchell said. “But I don’t think he’s going to. I’m going to give it all I got.”
The match came together through the podcast itself. Mitchell had been in conversation with his coach about the level of BJJ competition in the UFC, and he publicly called out Musumeci. Musumeci accepted.
“Because of the podcast, this match is going to happen,” Mitchell said. “Pretty cool that I went on a podcast, said I wanted to go against the guy, and he accepted it.”
His strategy going in was laid out plainly: “I’m going to go in there. I’m going to try to get him down, hold him down, pass, and smash. Obvious strategy.” He acknowledged Musumeci’s unpredictability but was not concerned. “This dude, you don’t even know what he’s going to do next. That’s why you got to always keep eye on him.”
