Mitrione, a former linebacker and defensive tackle in the NFL, got a reputation on the Spike TV series as a difficult-to-work-with brooder that rubbed his teammates the wrong way.

"People base all kinds of things on assumptions," Mitrione recently told MMAjunkie.com. "I don't know what Kimbo's going to come in there (with); I don't know what kind of fighter he's going to be. I know last time he came in, he displayed a little bit of a ground game and a lot of patience and maturity."

"I've never seen Kimbo bleed, so I think if you can get in his face and intimidate him, make him bleed, make him taste his own blood ... and see how he reacts to it, I think that would be pretty key."

"Knowing how fast he learns – at least from hearing it firsthand from everybody that was his teammate (on the show) – then I have no idea what to expect."

"I would be surprised if he comes in with flying arm triangles. I'd be shocked about that."