Mario Bautista’s win over beloved UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo was never going to be the win he expected it to be. Yes, it was nice for his winning streak (which sits at seven), for his wallet right before the holidays, and his place in the bantamweight division.
But to the fans, if he blew Aldo out in 20 seconds, he would have beaten an old fighter. If he defeated the Brazilian icon in a 15-minute war, he still beat Jose Aldo. And if he took a debated split decision, well, that where Bautista stands today, forced to defend his victory.