Mario Bautista believes the blueprint to beat Umar Nurmagomedov is already out there — and he’s ready to use it.
Set to clash with Nurmagomedov at UFC 321, Bautista says he’s entering the fight with the confidence that even the “unbeatable” can be beaten. After Nurmagomedov’s recent loss to Merab Dvalishvili, the once-feared contender’s aura of invincibility has started to fade — and Bautista plans to finish the job.
“It was Umar,” Bautista told MMA Fighting. “He had just lost to Merab and so it just made sense to me. Merab proved Umar is not unstoppable. He’s not like that Khabib style.”
Bautista, who rides an eight-fight win streak, has been quietly dominating the division. Despite being overlooked by fans and media, he sees this fight as his fast track to a title shot — just like Dvalishvili earned his own after a long run of wins.
Nurmagomedov, once hyped as the heir to Khabib’s legacy, showed vulnerability in his loss to Dvalishvili. Merab’s relentless pressure and pace neutralized Umar’s striking and grappling, exposing what Bautista calls “the human side” of Nurmagomedov.
“From what I’ve seen, if you really set a high pace, he tends to kind of fade at the end,” Bautista said. “Again, that’s Merab, too. That might happen with anyone. But if I push that same pressure, I can break his will.”
Initially, Bautista wanted the fight to headline a card in Vancouver as a five-round main event, but it was ultimately set for three rounds at UFC 321. Still, he says he’s prepared for a war.
“I definitely wanted the five rounds to get that feel before talking about a title,” Bautista said. “If I get a title shot after this and it’s my first five-rounder, I believe I’m built for it.”
While the spotlight remains on Nurmagomedov, Bautista insists his record speaks louder than hype. With nine consecutive wins, he would tie Aljamain Sterling for one of the longest active streaks in the bantamweight division — and that should put him in line for the winner of Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan at UFC 323.
“With a win over Umar, I hope Merab looks at that and sees himself in me,” Bautista said. “He had to go on a nine-fight win streak to get the title shot. Maybe this is my moment, too.”
If all goes as planned, Bautista believes he’s just two fights away from gold — first Umar, then the machine himself.
“You get to find out who you are in fights like these,” he said. “And I know who I am.” 💪🔥
#AD
Spend crypto like cash with RedotPay 💳 — the prepaid crypto card trusted by 1M+ users worldwide!
✅ No purchase fees
✅ Works on 90%+ of sites & apps
✅ $5 back on your first card
✅ Safe, fast, and globally available
Use referral code exqfj or click here to claim your bonus now!