Former Giant Mitrione eager to battle Slice at UFC 113
Matt Mitrione, yellow shorts, knocked out Marcus Jones in their heavyweight bout at "Ultimate Finale" at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas. (Dec. 5, 2009) Credit: Photo by UFC
Hey, who's that big guy in the Octagon with the dynamite in his hands? No, not that guy with the thick beard and legions of fans and haters. The other guy.
Wait, you mean there's another mixed martial artist stepping into the cage against Kimbo Slice at UFC 113 in Montreal tomorrow? Ah, yes, that must be Matt Mitrione, the former Giants defensive lineman and a contestant on last season's "Ultimate Fighter" reality show.
"As soon as they told me his name, I couldn't say yes fast enough," Mitrione said. "I think I even interrupted the person telling me. 'Yes, yes, I'd love this fight. Fantastic.' This is a tailor-made fight for me."
Mitrione (1-0) and Slice (4-1) both were victorious in their official UFC debuts in December. Slice's fan base, built on YouTube clips of his street fights from several years ago, catapulted this bout between newcomers to the pay-per-view card.
Headlining the UFC 113 card is the light heavyweight title rematch between Lyoto Machida, the last undefeated champion in all of mixed martial arts, and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.
While even the most casual fan of fisticuffs has heard the name "Kimbo Slice," only some hardcore New York Giants fans will remember Mitrione.
Mitrione, 6-3, 265 pounds, was a defensive lineman for the Giants in 2002. Good ol' No. 98 - post-Jessie Armstead, of course.
Matt Mitrione, kneeling, playing for the New York Giants in 2002. Credit: Photo by handout
"He was a tough guy, a tough, athletic guy," former Giants coach Jim Fassel said. "It doesn't surprise me that he's doing that now. I know one thing, I wouldn't want to fight him. When you go against him, you better bring your lunch pail because it's going to be an all-day project."
Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Purdue, Mitrione appeared in nine games and made six tackles that season. He was on the sideline, injured earlier in the season, during the Giants' epic 25-point playoff collapse to San Francisco, 39-38.
"It was highly uncomfortable," Mitrione said. "I remember saying to Luke Petitgout, 'Damn, we're looking really good right now.' It was mid-second quarter and we're up 20 points or something."
No sense irking Giants fans by elaborating any more about that game. Back to current matters.
Both fighters bring a reputation for punching and brawling. But in the months since their December bouts, they have worked on their ground game - Mitrione with Pat Barry in Milwaukee, Slice with American Top Team in Florida.
And if the fight remains on their feet and punches must be thrown, so be it.
"He likes to stand up and let 'em fly, and I think I'm pretty good at letting 'em fly," Mitrione said. "In my opinion, this is my fight. This isn't Kimbo's fight."
