Dice City Sports · Nov 1, 2025
Mario Bautista: “I was a couple moves away”
© Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesLAS VEGAS — Mario Bautista won’t wallow in what-ifs, but he’s convinced his UFC 321 performance showed he can beat the division’s elite — including Umar Nurmagomedov. Entering as a heavy underdog, Bautista pushed Nurmagomedov for three tense rounds, threatening a nasty toehold in Round 1 and scoring the bout’s lone knockdown in Round 2 before dropping a competitive decision.
“He looked good. He felt strong,” Bautista said on The TimboSugarShow. “If I made some adjustments, I think I could definitely beat him… It’s just a matter of winning positions.”
The moments that swung it