Bryce Mitchell recounts horrific nipple injury ahead of UFC Vegas 118

Bryce Mitchell has developed a reputation for unfortunate accidents leading into fights, and his latest mishap ahead of UFC Vegas 118 this Saturday follows that familiar pattern—though this time the culprit was laundry detergent rather than power tools.

At the event's media day Wednesday, Mitchell recounted how residual detergent trapped in his workout shirt triggered a chemical reaction against his skin during a training session. Initially, he and teammate TJ Brown thought the foamy substance was sweat from the gallon of milk Mitchell had recently consumed. Once they realized what was actually happening, however, it was too late: the detergent had already begun burning his nipples.

"My nipples were already on fire, and it actually literally just burnt my nipples bad," Mitchell explained, offering fellow fighters a cautionary note about the sensitivity of the area. The injury, while painful, did not sideline him from competition.

Mitchell will face Santiago Luna in a short-notice bout after original opponent Victor Henry withdrew due to a severe knee injury. Luna accepted the fight on just nine days' notice. Mitchell's gratitude extended to Henry's team, particularly coach Josh Barnett, for their transparency and professionalism in communicating the withdrawal. Mitchell has alternated wins and losses over his past seven fights and views Saturday's bout as an opportunity to build consistency entering 2026.

Mitchell also used the moment to remind fighters dealing with minor complaints—weight cuts, small injuries—to maintain perspective given Henry's year-long recovery timeline following surgery.