Behind the Fighter: Danny Mitchell

In another thrilling Fight Life TV Behind The Fighter documentary we see the legend Danny ‘Cheesecake Assassin’ Mitchell open up about his MMA career, his almost success at UFC and his future in MMA.

Starting his career straight out of high school Danny began racking up the fights before turning pro at the age of 21.

“I don’t think I could have a real job, nine while five, nah this is what I was born to do, and I was born to fight.”

With an undefeated fight record of eight wins he began to feel invincible, his over confidence lost him his first fight against Eugene Florida.

Despite the lost Danny took on an even bigger challenge and accepted a fight with Gunnar Nelson. A fighter with a reputable fight card. Danny trained furiously but ended up losing via TKO.

“Out of every one of my losses I reckon I could avenge them all, except for him. He’s my kryptonite.”

Although he had taken a brutal loss, he didn’t let it hold him back.

Competing all over Europe, Danny built up a reputation and whilst fighting in Sweden he caught the attention of notable MMA manager, Monty Cox.

This one encounter landed him a UFC contract. However this wasn’t the most celebratory time for him. Danny’s father had been diagnosed with cancer and as the UFC fight approached his father’s condition worsened.

The last fight Danny’s father saw was his debut in the UFC cage, something which he had always wanted to witness. Not long after his UFC debut his father died but his UFC career was still calling.

However trying to care for his mother and train for a fight without a coach ultimately meant he lost for a second time and his contract with the UFC was terminated.

Throughout his entire career Danny trained profusely without a proper trainer, he did it off his own back and focused on training others instead. A decision that he does have some regrets about.

In recent years he’s come to understand that if he’d taken a step back he might have gone further.

Although he knows this he continues to train the next generation of MMA fighters the only difference now is his focus on himself when it comes to upcoming fights.

Now when a fight is in the works, he takes the time to train properly usually by attending a 12 week training camp in order to be prepared and ready for a fight.

“For me it’s about being selfish and taking the time to train. I want to do myself justice and give it a 100%.”

At the end of his career Danny wants to be remembered as the fighter who would face anyone in the cage. He currently holds a 19-8-1 fight record and his scouting for bigger fights and even bigger wins.

“I reckon I’ve got another five years of good fighting and then I’ll get fat and laugh. I might keep fighting, maybe once a year but at heavy weight.”