"It could have been a kick to the nuts or it could have been a punch to the head. I just can't get hung up on it. I wanted it the next night, I wanted it in Chicago," Mitrione said to Sherdog.com. "It is what it is, it took them this long to do it but as long as it got done I don't care."
Now that he does get the rematch, Mitrione knows it won't be easy. He knows Kharitonov is one of the best heavyweights on the roster and is dangerous on the ground and standing. But, for him, the game plan remains the same.
"I do my best to keep the fight on the feet but Kharitonov is a big guy. He has a lot of strength. He is good on the ground, solid submissions," he explained. "It doesn't matter if it is him or not I try not to go to the ground at all. I get paid to throw hands and kicks."
If he does get past the Russian, Mitrione is confident he could be fighting for the title next. He was upset that the Grand Prix happened as he thought he deserved a title shot anyway. But, he knows he remains a big name in the promotion and deserves a shot should he win here.
"I don't think the conversation can be had without me being in it. I have put myself as the hands-down best true heavyweight in the promotion. I'm one of the best heavyweights in the world, period," he explained. "I don't think anyone can say I am out of contention. After I beat Kharitonov, which will be tough, then that could be the next fight."
If he does fight for the title next, he could very well be rematching Ryan Bader - if he gets past Cheick Kongo - who dominated him in the Grand Prix. For Mitrione, he doesn't like "Darth's" style at all and knows he needs to make adjustments.
"Bader beat me by getting me pregnant. He has great wrestling skills that I never developed, it sucks," Mitrione said. "No heavyweight is going to do that to me. It wasn't fun, one of the least enjoyable moments of my career. But, I can't do anything about it now."
However, he knows given the fact that he grew up playing football, not wrestling, he will always be worse than Bader. "Football is my love and everything I do comes from a football base. Wrestling is my Achilles heel and is a miserable experience for me. I do it because I have to, and it sucks," he said. "No matter how much I wrestle I will never be a fifth of the wrestler as Ryan Bader is. He can be hungover from a seven-day bender in Vegas and Cancun, spun around, and will still be a better wrestler than me. But, I didn't get myself out of the situation."
For right now, the 41-year-old is just focusing on Kharitonov and getting his hand raised on Saturday night.