Inspired by Liddell, UFC 162's David Mitchell vowed Vegas return as UFC fighter

Eight years ago, David Mitchell watched Chuck Liddell win the UFC light heavyweight title by knocking out Randy Couture at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Right there, he resolved not to return to the city until he was fighting in the octagon.

“Seven-and-a-half years later, that dream comes true,” Mitchell told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “Regardless of what happens, I feel like I’ve already made it.”

On Saturday, Mitchell will fight for the first time in Sin City in what is his fourth UFC appearance. It also could be the last time he steps into a cage at all. On his road to the octagon, he’s suffered nerve damage in his spine that once left the left side of his body with a fraction of its usual strength.

So Mitchell (12-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC), whose nickname is “Daudi,” feels he’s got little to lose when he walks into the MGM Grand Garden Arena to fight Mike Pierce (16-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) at UFC 162 in the event’s Facebook-streamed curtain-jerker.

“This might be my last fight,” he said. “This is really what I wanted to do from Day One, and I think it goes to show if you believe and you’re willing to work hard, you can do just about anything. I think I’ve proven that.”

Pierce, who’s won his past three bouts, is a huge favorite to win the fight. He has 11 fights in the UFC and has a wrestling pedigree that plays to the weaknesses of Mitchell, whose takedown defense in the octagon stands as a paltry seven percent.

Mitchell attributes his poor stat to his injury and said a rigorous rehab program has put his nerve function back to 100 percent. While he admits his neck still gets stiff, he said he’ll be in his best shape yet.

“I usually would accept the challenge (of getting taken down) and tap the guy out in the first round of the fight,” he said. “But obviously in the UFC, it’s not as easy just to slap an armbar on guys. But if he wants to get me to the ground, he’s going to get me to the ground. We’re going to have that battle.”

Of course, he’s hoping that Pierce wants to curry favor with the promotion by delivering a highlight-reel knockout. He believes that would improve his odds.

“He’s kind of like watching paint dry,” Mitchell said. “It’s really hard to watch the video, because he just does the same thing over and over. But hopefully he steps it up, and we have a banger.

“I’ve been reading his interviews, and I think he’s looking past me a little bit. He’s looking for a big finish, and if he wants to try to stand with me, I think I have the advantage.”

Mitchell’s coaches arrive in Las Vegas on Thursday to go through the final steps of preparation. His head trainer, David Terrel, once fought for the UFC middleweight title on the other side of the country in New Jersey. The ritual of getting ready to fight is one with which they’re both familiar.

This time around, though, Mitchell is soaking things in a little more than usual.

“I’ve fought 45 minutes in the octagon,” he said. “I started training when I was 22, 23 years old. I don’t have the pedigree this guy has, but I’ve got nothing to lose.”

For the latest on UFC 162, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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