Since his arrival to Bellator as a 10-0 fighter in June 2019, Patchy Mix has been one of MMA’s rising stars, leading to his status today as one of the sport’s greatest bantamweights. Mix won the Bellator Bantamweight Grand Prix held between 2022 and 2023, scoring a unanimous decision over former champion Kyoji Horiguchi, pulling off a technical submission of Magomed Magomedov, and knocking out Raufeon Stots in 80 seconds to win the tournament and become interim champion. Mix then submitted Sergio Pettis at Bellator 301 to become undisputed champion.

With a base of Wushu Sanda, Magomed Magomedov made a name for himself in Russia prior to Bellator, becoming a bantamweight champion there before running into Petr Yan. Magomedov impressed with wins over Matheus Mattos and Cee Jay Hamilton before losing to Stots. Magomedov defeated Enrique Barzola in the Grand Prix before his semifinal loss to Mix. Magomedov, a Master of Sports, last fought in July, scoring a submission of Danny Sabatello.

Will Patchy Mix have a first successful defense of the Bellator bantamweight championship? Or will Magomedov get his revenge and the championship?

Round 1 Both men flashing lead jabs. Low front kick from Magomedov. Mix answers with a couple of low kicks of his own. Magomedov misses a left hand. Low kick from Mix. Another low kick from Magomedov. Another low kick from Mix. Magomedov throws the right hand. Magomedov gets shaken up a bit by a punch to the head from Mix. Low kicks from Mix. Jab by Mix. Round kick just misses for Mix; however, he does land a side kick. Magomedov with an overhand in an exchange.

Left hook misses for Magomedov. Front kick by Magomedov. Knee in a clinch from Magomedov. Magomedov with a combination on the exit. High kick from Magomedov is blocked. Low kick from Magomedov. Jab misses for Mix. Right hand lands for Mix. Round kick by Magomedov. Magomedov lands short strikes, but Mix lands a low kick. Left hook from Magomedov stuns Mix! Magomedov follows up with right hands, but he presses Mix against the SmartCage! Trading of low kicks as Mix appears to have recovered. Round kick to the body from Magomedov. A couple of more body kick attempts from Magomedov. Low kick from Mix.

Round 2 Low kick from Mix. Low round kick from Magomedov. Mix goes in, and he jumps up for the guillotine! It looks tight briefly, but Magomedov gets out of it! Magomedov is now on top. Mix looking to bring this into half guard. Mix is able to get back to his feet. Magomedov with a right hand. One-two from Magomedov. Left jab from Mix. Low kick from Magomedov. Low kick from Mix. Magomedov with another. Right hand from Mix. Right hand from Magomedov. Mix lands a right hand on Magomedov. Low kick from Mix. Low kick from Magomedov. Right hand from Mix.

Mix flashing the right hand. Mix goes to jump in, but Magomedov lands a left hand to the body. Mix continues to land the jab. Magomedov misses a left hand. Mix misses a right hook. Low kick from Mix. Right hand from Mix. Low kick from Mix causes Magomedov to slip a little. One-two from Magomedov. Right hook from Mix. Mix with another jab. Right hand from Magomedov, followed by a low kick. Mix with a couple of kicks. Right hand, left hand, and a low kick from Magomedov. Mix throwing a hook. Magomedov goes inside and lands an elbow. Straight to the body and a low kick from Magomedov. Mix with another jab.

Round 3 Low kick and a short combination from Magomedov. Right hand from Mix. Low kick from Magomedov. Mix misses a low kick. Front kick by Magomedov. Both men miss hooks. Magomedov goes for a single-leg, but Mix reverses it and goes for a guillotine choke! Magomedov is able to escape it! He gets his guard up. The fight gets back to the feet, with Mix throwing a knee as soon as Magomedov gets to his feet. Low kick from Magomedov. Left hand from Magomedov. Low kick from Mix. Magomedov with a combination.

Right hook does not land for Magomedov. Low kick from Mix. Magomedov with another low kick. Magomedov lands a right hand that backs Mix up! One-two from Magomedov. He gets in close, and he presses Mix against the fence! The two now jockey for position against the fence! Mix with a knee to the body. Right hand by Mix. Low kick from Magomedov. Low kick from Mix. Low kick from Magomedov. Low kick from Mix. The two exchange. High kick from Magomedov gets blocked. Front kick from Magomedov. Low kick from Mix. Left hand from Magomedov. Right hand from Mix. Body shot by Magomedov. High kick by Magomedov to end the round.

It’s a close fight, and an envious task for the judges to get through!

OFFICIAL RESULT Patchy Mix defeats Magomed Magomedov by Split Decision (48-47 x2, 46-49) in a bantamweight world title bout