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UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Bantamweight contender Patrick Mix delivered the latest statement of his MMA career at Bellator 232 with his second successive first-round submission in Bellator appearances. And, after his latest impressive finish, “Patchy” says he’s now chasing the biggest fights – and wants a bigger paycheck to match.

Mix (12-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) finished late replacement Isiah Chapman (9-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) via first-round Suloev stretch and said that by hitting that rarely-seen submission technique, he made good on a promise he made to himself after his victory over Ricky Bandejas on his Bellator debut.

“My last fight, I body-triangled Ricky Bandejas, and when he bent over, I should have went for it on him; I could have grabbed his ankle and didn’t,” Mix explained. “But I stuck with the rear-naked choke. I would have been a star then if I did it, so I was kicking myself in the butt for it, and then, I was like, ‘If I get there this time and he stands up, I’m hitting my move.’”

Mix says his submission arsenal is unlike anything else presented by the other contenders in the bantamweight division and warned his future opponents that he has plenty more tricks up his sleeve for his upcoming fights.

“Basically, my coach says it: We’ve got a machine gun full of bullets, and he can’t dodge them all,” Mix explained. “That’s what my submission attempts are. I have so many in my bag, and my rear-naked choke is not my best one. They thought that’s all I had from my Ricky fight. I have a whole list, and that’s not even my best one. I have a bunch of other ones that are much better.”

Mix has only competed twice inside the Bellator cage, but the dynamic bantamweight has already proved that he is one of the top contenders in the 135-pound division. He’s already targeting the title, and he says he only wants big fights from here on in.

“I had a contender this fight, man – Dominic Mazzotta,” Mix explained. “He actually pulled out. I wanted that name. I’m grateful I had Isiah Chapman, but I just took out Ricky Bandejas – he’s a big contender in the division – in under a minute, so it’s no step up.

“I’ve been taking out contenders. I’ve taken out Ricky, two UFC guys – Andre Ewell and Tony Gravely – all (in) under five minutes if you add up all the times, so I’m already a contender. I already am stepping up, and I want another fight soon.”

That fight could potentially come on Dec. 29 when Bellator heads to Japan. Mix is perfectly placed to be lined up as one of the three Bellator representatives in the Bellator vs. Rizin challenge matches on the card. If that possibility pans out, he says he’s more than ready to throw down at the Saitama Super Arena.

“I’m 12-0 with nine finishes, seven in the first round,” Mix said. “I’m on a 23-fight winning streak because in my amateur career I finished 17 people. I know they have a show in Japan, and I know they’re talking about it. I’m going to go and work on my passport right now.

“I definitely want to fight again, (and) I’m definitely healthy. If they want to match me up in Japan, let’s do it.”

Mix’s main aim, however, is to secure his fighting future in the form of a beefed-up Bellator contract, and he says the best way to do that is to secure a fight with the current two-promotion bantamweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi.

“If Bellator pays me well enough, I’m here to fight the contenders in the division, but I want to get paid for my services now,” he said. “My record speaks for itself. With the contract right now that I’m on, even Horiguchi, I know that comes with money, so that’s why I’m chasing Horiguchi.

“I’m not chasing these other contenders for this amount of money right now. I’m chasing Horiguchi, because that entails a new contract.”