Preview: UFC Fight Night 181 ‘Hall vs. Silva’

Featherweights

Bryce Mitchell (13-0) vs. Andre Fili (21-7)

ODDS: Mitchell (-150), Fili (+130)

This may be a backhanded compliment, but it is a compliment nonetheless: Mitchell may yet become known for something other than getting his scrotum caught in a power drill. “Thug Nasty” was a moderately interesting prospect coming off of his season of “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2018, but his wild and aggressive style figured to hit a hard ceiling once he faced someone who could exploit his lack of defense. Mitchell has not met that man yet and has instead blossomed in the years since, his run highlighted by his December win over Matt Sayles. Mitchell is apparently attempting to make his opponents feel the pain he once felt, as he caught Sayles in the UFC’s second-ever Twister submission and nearly caught Charles Rosa with the same maneuver in their fight in May. It is unclear if he will have his long-requested camouflage shorts for this fight, but the Arkansas native gets a big opportunity to jump from prospect to potential contender against a divisional mainstay in Fili.

“Touchy” Fili came into the UFC with some hype as the next great Team Alpha Male product, and while the Californian did not experience immediate success, he has quietly rounded himself into excellent form. It feels about right that Fili alternated wins and losses for his first eight UFC appearances. His collection of skills was more than enough to take care of the lower reaches of the UFC roster, but his defensive gaps and lack of one true elite weapon held him back against any step up in competition. Over time, Fili has become a steadier hand, particularly on the striking side of the equation. Consecutive wins in 2019 saw him keep Myles Jury at bay with a jab and knock out Sheymon Moraes, so at this point, Fili’s main drawback—and something that will probably keep him from ascending to true contender status—is that he is not an elite athlete. It is telling that his two most recent losses were to Michael Johnson and Sodiq Yusuff, two opponents who provide a level of speed and power to their boxing that Fili simply could not match. A fun June scrap against Charles Jourdain got Fili back in the win column, and he has the chance to turn back another rising contender here.

There is certainly a path to victory for Fili. The Californian is the longer fighter, and his jab could neutralize Mitchell’s wild approach and frustrate him on the feet. However, given Mitchell's increased willingness to just take things to the mat and initiate madness, that may not even matter. Fili is a solid enough wrestler, but he does not look to have the defensive chops to keep Mitchell from implementing his game; and while it would be a surprise if Mitchell found a finish, he should be able to win rounds by dictating the terms of the fight. Even a striking match could lead to some success for Mitchell, given his speed advantage and willingness to just stay aggressive and wild. While Mitchell is probably nearing his ceiling unless he refines his approach, the pick is for him to take the decision victory.

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