Mitchell Escaped an Early Scare
Bryce Mitchell defeated Said Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26, 2025. All three judges scored the bantamweight contest 29–28 for Mitchell after three rounds at Etihad Arena.
Nurmagomedov’s knee created the first major danger
Mitchell pressed forward and worked in the clinch, but Nurmagomedov separated and connected with a knee as he approached. The strike dropped Mitchell and left him trying to recover from his back.
Nurmagomedov held top position late in the first round before Mitchell scrambled upright. The early damage gave Mitchell a difficult opening to his return to bantamweight competition.
Repeated takedowns shifted the contest
Mitchell immediately pursued his wrestling in the second, taking Nurmagomedov down and moving through the guard. He reached side control and looked for a kimura before the positions changed again.
A scramble brought Mitchell onto the back, followed by another reversal from Nurmagomedov. Mitchell closed the round with a further takedown, ensuring his grappling remained central to the increasingly competitive contest.
The closing round favored Mitchell’s control
Nurmagomedov threatened a guillotine during another wrestling exchange in the third. Mitchell escaped the danger and took the dominant position, spending an extended stretch controlling from the top.
He advanced through side control and toward the back without securing a submission. The resulting decision returned him to the win column after a loss to Jean Silva in April, with the official verdict reflecting a recovery from early trouble rather than a finish.
Sources
- Cageside Press: knee knockdown, positional changes and bantamweight return
- MMA Fighting: July 26 event results and Mitchell’s unanimous decision
- UFC: bantamweight matchup and event details
