Patchy Mix knocked out by 19-year-old in disastrous first fight since UFC firing

Patchy Mix’s return to RIZIN did not go to plan on Saturday, as he was finished for the first time in his mixed martial arts career.

The former Bellator bantamweight champion entered the ring at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo following an unsuccessful stint under the UFC banner.

After a seven-fight winning streak, many expected big things from the 32-year-old inside the Octagon. But Mix was cut from the UFC roster after losing both of his fights, and in his bid to bounce back in a new home, the New York native’s losing skid extended in brutal fashion.

Patchy Mix knocked out by Kyoma Akimoto’s soccer kick at RIZIN 52

After being released by the UFC, Mix quickly signed with RIZIN. He previously fought under that banner in 2019, facing and submitting Yuki Motoya as a Bellator representative.

But he could not stay undefeated in the Asian organization when he made his return, instead succumbing to a soccer kick from 19-year-old Kyoma Akimoto on Saturday after being knocked down by a clean straight left punch.

While he left MMA’s premier organization after an 0-2 run, he avoided being stopped in both fights. After Mix was outpointed by Mario Bautista, he suffered the same fate against newcomer Jakub Wiklasz.

With that in mind, the 32-year-old’s first fight post-UFC marked the most vicious loss of his difficult losing run thus far, and saw him finished for the very first time.