Patchy Mix targets Rizin title shot after UFC release

Former Bellator bantamweight champion Patrick Mix will drop back to 135 pounds when he meets Shoko Sato at Rizin 54 on Aug. 11 in Tokyo.

Mix, who won 20 of his first 21 pro fights before joining the UFC, dropped consecutive decisions to Mario Bautista and Jakub Wiklacz in Las Vegas before the promotion cut him loose. The New York native then moved to featherweight for Rizin 52, where he absorbed a second-round stoppage loss to Kyoma Akimoto in his third straight defeat, per Sherdog.

Mix vows to earn Rizin bantamweight title shot

Sato, 38, brings 58 pro fights worth of experience dating to 2008 and has won three of his past four outings. The former ONE Championship and Shooto veteran stopped John Sweeney with a first-round submission at Rizin 52.

Mix posted on social media that he plans to use the bout as a springboard toward Rizin gold. "So much respect for Sato but I'm coming back to bantamweight to prove myself. Fully dedicated and with so much vengeance," he wrote. "Everything is in my hands, I'm ready to show my true form."

Rizin 54 takes place at Toyota Arena Tokyo and is headlined by a featherweight clash between Kleber Koike Erbst and Kyoma Akimoto.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — 'Patchy' Mix set for second bout since UFC release, vows to show 'true form'