That’s right, “Thug Nasty” dropped his rap album in 2021, and while his bar-spitting skills may have taken some people by surprise, music is just another example of Mitchell’s quest to be great.
Mitchell’s drive to Barata MMA takes about an hour each way. Instead of wasting those two hours a day, Mitchell plays instrumental beats and practices various lyrical cadences. He feels that freestyling and giving himself something to focus on while driving helps activate his mind and keep him sharp.
“When I’m rapping on the way to the gym, I perform better in the gym,” Mitchell told UFC.com. “It’s almost like a cup of coffee. It puts me in my zone and made my time in the car more efficient.”
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Hip-hop has helped Mitchell also realize the importance of timing, effort, and creativity when it comes to competing in the Octagon.
“When I was in the studio rapping, I was saying all the words right, but the producer told me that I needed to come alive. With the way I was saying them, I was just bland. Same thing with a fight,” Mitchell said. “You can throw a jab, or you can throw a jab with emphasis. There is life in every syllable and a fight is the same way; you can’t be wasting movements and energy.”
Mitchell gives 100% effort into everything he does and it’s evident that whatever he decides to do, he does it well. From the farm to pulling off a twister in the Octagon to dropping a rap album.