News Patchy Mix in RIZIN

[David Street]

Patchy Mix splits with UFC, signs with RIZIN

One of the UFC's most notable signings of 2025 has departed the promotion seven months later.

mmajunkie.usatoday.com

Couldn't cut it in UFC?

 

[STAY GOLD]

Yeah, he really underperformed in the UFC.

 

[Bobby Boulders]

I ain't mad

 

[David Street]

 

[CC27]

One of the biggest busts in UFC history. Thought he might get one more but he wasnt a top 15 BW and they were probably paying him decent. This aint any better esp at FW, dont know why he isnt going after Sabatello at BW who he might be able to beat. He would get slaughtered by Shaydullaev.

 

[David Street]

If he loses to this 19 year old, forget ever getting a decent stand-up and returning to UFC?

Kyoma Akimoto 11-1​

 

[Bobby Boulders]

If he loses to this 19 year old, forget ever getting a decent stand-up and returning to UFC?

Kyoma Akimoto 11-1​

Not necessarily, but probably. There are enough decent names for him to fight that even if he loses to Akimoto, provided he throws together a decent streak, it's possible. Though if I were him I wouldn't worry about it, even if it happens he'd be like 35 or so.

RIZIN is crazy for making that matchup, though, and I love them for it

 

[JacJeanFinger]

JTT lacks high level grapplers. Akimoto is so confident with his striking that he vows to beat Shaydullaev on feet. With that being not impossible, I'm convinced that he hasn't done the homework since Motoya outworked him on the ground. He needs to understand that Gomi was also an elite wrestler to survive in MMA as a striker.

The winner will probably be slated to face Shaydullaev who otherwise has no choice but moving up.

 

[UFCIsNOTRigged]

JTT lacks high level grapplers. Akimoto is so confident with his striking that he vows to beat Shaydullaev on feet. With that being not impossible, I'm convinced that he hasn't done the homework since Motoya outworked him on the ground. He needs to understand that Gomi was also an elite wrestler to survive in MMA as a striker.

The winner will probably be slated to face Shaydullaev who otherwise has no choice but moving up.

Shaydullaev is explosive but he's not some world class striker if there is anywhere he can be beat it is definitely on the feet so he's not saying much here.

Love this kids confidence but I don't think he'd last a full minute on the ground with Shaydullaev at this point.

 

[HuskySamoan]

JTT lacks high level grapplers. Akimoto is so confident with his striking that he vows to beat Shaydullaev on feet. With that being not impossible, I'm convinced that he hasn't done the homework since Motoya outworked him on the ground. He needs to understand that Gomi was also an elite wrestler to survive in MMA as a striker.

The winner will probably be slated to face Shaydullaev who otherwise has no choice but moving up.

Kyoma is 19, very talented, but 19! He needs to spend a couple years, YEARS, building experience both in the training process and competition wise before he gets into a fight vs simeone at the level of Motoya or Mix, let alone Shaydullaev. Japanese MMA has no sense in its head when it comes to developing fighters.

Kyoma should experience training camps abroad and spend time training in new environments. Do a camp at Killcliff/ATT, spend a summer at Tiger Muay Thai with the Caucasians and Central Asians, build a network at the U21 wrestling team in Japan so he can get seriously more mat time. Etc etc. This should be the process, he should be going rounds with Movsar Evloev or spending a camp down in Australia with Volkanovski, Kasib Murdoch and the Hickman brothers etc.

Shaydullaev is explosive but he's not some world class striker if there is anywhere he can be beat it is definitely on the feet so he's not saying much here.

Love this kids confidence but I don't think he'd last a full minute on the ground with Shaydullaev at this point.

Shaydullaev like everyone can be beaten, but Kyoma isn't even a top 50 FW...hes a 19 year old prospect with really no credible wins. Even standing Shaydullaev would pressure him, clinch and dirty box, corner and bludgeon Kyoma...knock him down and finish him. Its way too soon.