‘Hit, don’t get hit:’ Bills’ Brandin Bryant is born fighter & will be ready when number is called

Sep 12, 2023

Brandin Bryant of the Buffalo Bills warms up prior to a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Highmark Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)Getty Images

Brandin Bryant was sitting in Henry Hooft’s gym in Deerfield Beach, Fla. three years ago, ready to go home after an intense mixed martial arts training session.

Before Bryant left the gym, Kill Cliff FC wrestling coach Greg Jones made him an offer most people wouldn’t even consider. The professional MMA fighters were about to begin their daily sparring sessions.

“Yo man, jump in,” Bryant recalls Jones suggesting.

Bryant had been training MMA for a few years by this point in 2020. He found Hooft, one of the most respected coaches in MMA, back in 2016 after training at XPE Sports in preparation for the NFL combine.

Jones gave Bryant some simple advice before the football-playing novice decided to jump on the mat’: “It’s simple. Hit, don’t get it.’”

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Never one to back down from a challenge, Bryant wrapped his hands, smiled, and prepared his mind for combat. The one thing he didn’t consider was who was going to be on the other side of the fight. Looking across the mat, Bryant locked eyes with former UFC light heavyweight title contender Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. Before Bryant had a second to process what was happening, the fight started.

“(It went) Just how you think it would have went,” Bryant said, smiling as he thought back to the sparring session against Johnson. “I felt the power. I learned a lot that day sparring with him. It was crazy - like racing Usain Bolt or something. You don’t have a chance. That’s how good these guys are at their craft.”

Johnson is one of the most decorated strikers in the history of MMA. His 11 career knockouts while fighting in the UFC rank third all time.

When the sparring session began, Johnson said he took the foot off the gas, but he still delivered some shots. Bryant was seeing the same looks that Daniel Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson saw when they fought Johnson.

Bryant didn’t run away from the fight. He hung in there and even touched Johnson a few times.

“I’m not trying to catch a big punch from Brandin. At all. Ever, you know what I mean? I felt his power,” Johnson said. “He’s a big boy. Even when I lock up with him. I’m like, dude may not be that tall, but buddy’s thick. And you can just feel the strength of him. So you got to be cautious about that stuff and be on your toes.”

Bryant has had to fight for every opportunity in his football career. He earned a spot at Florida Atlantic after starting his career at Fort Scott Community College. In 2016, Bryant went undrafted and he’s been fighting to stay in the NFL ever since. He’s been on an NFL practice squad for five of the last seven seasons. He played in the Canadian football League in 2018 and 2019 to try and keep his dream alive.

On Monday Night Football, Bryant could be called up off the practice squad and play his eighth career NFL game in place of injured defensive tackle Ed Oliver. The Buffalo Bills are banged up on the interior of their defensive line. Veteran Tim Settle is doubtful to play, too.

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The timing couldn’t be worse for the Bills with Titans powerhouse running back Derrick Henry next up. He rushed for three touchdowns to help beat Buffalo last year in the game where Josh Allen slipped at the goal line. If Bryant plays, he’ll be one of the men tasked with setting a physical tone against a Tennessee team that likes to play bully ball at the point of attack.

Bryant’s teammates think he’s ready to shine.

This past offseason, Bryant brought a few of his Bills teammates with him to Kill Cliff, including left tackle Dion Dawkins and edge rusher Greg Rousseau. By the time the team had to report for training camp, Bryant said Dawkins was in the gym more than he was. Rousseau even took part in a few sparring sessions. He said he’s noticed improvement in his hand speed since he returned from offseason work.

“If you can beat the hand then you beat your man,” Rousseau said.

Rousseau thinks Bryant is ready to make an impact against the Titans.

“I’m excited for his opportunity this week. Obviously, what happened to some of our d-tackles,” Rousseau said. “I know he’s ready - He’s a worker, and he deserves it because he be going at it day in and day out. Whether it’s offseason, in season, practice, you know, he’s that guy.”

Bryant isn’t going to replace Oliver on the Bills defensive line. Nobody could do that. When you put on the tape, Bryant said it’s impossible not to recognize the impact Oliver makes with his ability to get into the offensive backfield.

“He’s probably the best penetrating d-tackle that I can emulate right now,” Bryant said. “So that’s what our defense is about, penetration. It’s getting off the ball and causing havoc. I don’t think anybody in the league right now does that as good as Ed Oliver. So just being around him and being able to watch that and just take stuff from his game. I think that helped me get better.”

The Bills defensive line was unblockable as a unit in the first game of the season against the Los Angeles Rams. L.A. only rushed for 57 yards and Buffalo hit Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford 15 times in the game and recorded seven sacks.

BUFFALO, NY - APRIL 08: Anthony Johnson warms up backstage during the UFC 210 event at the KeyBank Center on April 8, 2017 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Bryant has stayed ready for his next chance to play after getting called up off the practice squad for two games last season. He said it makes it simple to keep a fighter’s mindset because of how the Bills organization has set the culture.

“You have to continue to show that you’re growing and you’re getting better or you probably wouldn’t be here,” he said. “That probably goes for anybody in the locker room.”

Johnson has been away from fighting for more than a year as he’s dealt with some difficult health problems. He spent his Sunday watching football and said he’s excited to watch Bryant play if he gets a chance on Monday night.

Bryant earned Johnson’s respect on the sparring mat back in 2020.

“I really appreciate guys like Brandin coming through and giving us a different look and him taking the time out of his day to want to get better too,” Johnson said. “You know, I think it takes a special individual to be able to do that.”

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