Matt Mitrione: Knockout loss to Sergei Kharitonov ‘not because of my mouthpiece’

Matt Mitrione is adamant that his issues with his mouthpiece during his Bellator 225 clash with Sergei Kharitonov did not lead to his second-round knockout loss to the Russian in their rematch on Saturday night in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The heavyweight lost his mouthpiece on several occasions throughout the contest, including seconds before the final exchange in which Kharotonov dropped him with an uppercut before finishing him with grounded strikes.

Many took to social media to underline their belief that Mitrione’s defeat was due to him being distracted by the ill-fitting gum-shield, but Mitrione disagrees.

Mitrione revealed that he lost the mouthguard he usually uses a few days before the bout and was using a new mouthguard for the first time during Saturday’s main event. Be that as it may, he underlined that the change had nothing to do with the defeat. Mitrione acknowledged that his reaction to losing the mouthguard is what cost him the fight.

“Me losing was not because of my mouthpiece, it was because of my response to the situation. I always use the same and lost it Thursday before fight week. Had an impression done at a West Lafayette dentist. It was shipped to hotel. First time I ever wore it was tonight,” he wrote.

Check out the highlights for Bellator 225 below.