Mario Bautista started his 2026 campaign with a statement performance.
If there were any doubts that Bautista is in the title mix at 135 pounds, he answered them in emphatic fashion with a second-round submission of Vinicius Oliveira in Saturday’s UFC Vegas 113 main event. Bautista dominated the majority of the action, neutralizing Oliveira and then pulling off a gorgeous transition into a rear-naked choke in Round 2 to force the tap.
With the win, Bautista is now 9-1 dating back to 2021 and adds “Lok Dog” to a hit list that includes the legendary Jose Aldo and former Bellator champion Patchy Mix.
Pros were blown away by Bautista’s performance on social media. Former UFC fighter David Michaud didn’t mince words, stating plainly, “Hell yeah, Mario beat the piss outta that guy.”
UFC stars including Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, Henry Cejudo, and Belal Muhammad also spoke highly of Bautista’s one-sided win.
Check out more reactions from social media below.
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