Matt Mitrione: A Different Breed of Animal

"If I’m as good as I think I am right now then I should win this fight." - Matt Mitrione

To put things in the most simple of terms, Matt Mitrione is a different animal.

Where most fighters competing at the highest level of mixed martial arts have spent years scrapping their way through smaller promotions in order to get the UFC, the former NFL player turned mixed martial artist simply changed his focus.

Despite dedicating over 20 years of his life to the gridiron, the Lafayette native decided it was time to hang up the helmet and test himself in hand-to-hand combat. With the help of heralded MMA veteran Chris Lytle, “Meathead” was selected to compete on the 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter,and while he had no real MMA experience to his credit, one thing Mitrione has in spades is gamesmanship.

TUF Transition

The reality program was a unique vehicle for the former All-American from Purdue University to introduce himself to the UFC fan base, and where the majority of that cast has fallen into obscurity, for Mitrione it was simply an introduction.

In the four years that have passed since The Ultimate Fighter, Mitrione has made a solid impact on the heavyweight ranks. The 35-year-old has won six of his eight showings inside the Octagon, and developed a reputation for his willingness to stand toe-to-toe, sit down on his punches and let the chips fall where they may.

While that mentality carried him to a perfect 5-0 start in the UFC, it is