Marlon Vera’s sudden exit from UFC 316 cracked the door, and Patchy Mix kicked it wide open. Just like that, one of MMA’s most decorated free agents has finally gotten his long-awaited UFC debut. With Vera reportedly out due to an injury, Mario Bautista needed a new dance partner for the New Jersey PPV, and the former Bellator bantamweight champion was more than happy to oblige, following in the footsteps of former PFL/Bellator stars like Aaron Pico and Patricio Pitbull.

The stage is set. And Mix? He’s not just showing up, he’s got a plan in his mind, and Bautista may just find himself in a storm that is the former Bellator champion who boasts 15 finishes in his 20-1 record!

Patchy Mix plans to announce his UFC arrival in spectacular fashion against Mario Bautista

At the UFC Vegas 106 post-fight press conference, Patchy Mix didn’t hold back. When asked how it felt to finally shut up the critics who mocked his time in other promotions, he didn’t blink. With a calm and collected confidence that has become his trademark, he replied, “Well, it’s like what now, you know? And they’ll all be able to see what I can do in 3 weeks. You know, everyone who’s been in the gym… I’m feared.”

It’s no secret that the UFC is considered to be the pinnacle of MMA amongst the fan base. Yet, with wins over names like Kyoji Horiguchi, Magomed Magomedov, and Sergio Pettis, Mix isn’t worried about being called a ‘B-League’ fighter by the critics.

According to him, “They know it as well as I know it, because I’ve trained with so many people, I’ve made so many people say uncle and tap, your favorite fighter’s fighter, you know.  So it’s like, you know, for them to say that I wasn’t elite and stuff, it almost was comical to me because of like how much work I was doing and how many people I submit on a daily basis.”

Mix hasn’t just been winning, he’s been dominating. And he’s been doing it quietly, almost in exile, while the UFC spotlight shone elsewhere. Now the cage door swings open, and the timing couldn’t be better. Mix, fed up with being shelved by the PFL after their Bellator merger, demanded his release. The promotion gave it. The UFC wasted no time. One signature later, Mix was booked for UFC 316 against a surging Mario Bautista. The stars aligned, and the fuse was lit.

But this isn’t just a late-replacement fight. As the former Bellator champion revealed, “I plan to run him over man and I plan to put him away and you know, I know guys have finished him before, but I plan to put him away and prove that I’m different than everyone else in this division and I’m different than these other top ranked guys.”

Mario Bautista, no slouch himself, stands tall on a seven-fight win streak. His last victory, though controversial, came against none other than Jose Aldo. He’s been climbing steadily, showing grit and polish. But now he’s facing a wrecking ball with something to prove.

Yet, before he made his arrival into the UFC, Patchy Mix revealed that he had to have a conversation with a friend and the reigning king of the division he now plans to conquer.

Mix lays his plans out in front of Merab Dvalishvili before signing with the UFC

Merab Dvalishvili and Patchy Mix have spent countless hours training together at Xtreme Couture. They’ve shared gyms, sweat, and sparring sessions. But all that history? It may soon collide with destiny.

As such, when asked about a potential title clash between the pair in the future, Mix stated, “A couple of months ago, we had been in the gym and I saw him. I told him, ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen with my PFL deal, and I wanna be a man to you and tell you I might come over there’.”

That’s rare in this cutthroat game. Fighters don’t usually announce their arrival to a division with that kind of grace. But Mix? He wanted no surprises. As he further stated, “I’m doing this for my family, and that title comes with setting your family up for life. So, it doesn’t matter who is in the way. It doesn’t matter who.”

And if that path leads him to Merab Dvalishvili? So be it. Mix made it clear he’s not coming to play nice. He’s coming to run people over. Whether it’s a ranked contender or a longtime friend holding the belt, the goal is simple: gold and glory. So here’s the question: can the UFC’s bantamweight division handle Patchy Mix? What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!