Mario Bautista Eyes Umar Nurmagomedov After Breakthrough Win: “That One Shoots Me to the Top”

Mario Bautista is no longer flying under the radar in the UFC bantamweight division. After a statement victory over Patchy Mix at UFC 316, the surging contender is setting his sights on a high-stakes clash with Umar Nurmagomedov—a matchup he believes will vault him into title contention.

The win over Mix marked a major turning point in Bautista’s UFC career. Despite facing a highly touted opponent in his promotional debut, Bautista delivered a composed and dominant performance, cementing himself as a legitimate threat at 135 pounds. Yet, in a puzzling decision, he was denied a post-fight interview on the live broadcast—something that didn’t go unnoticed by hardcore MMA fans.

For Bautista, the lack of acknowledgment was disappointing. While he didn’t expect the world, he hoped for at least a word from the UFC brass.

“Maybe I was thinking like we go in the back and they say something like, ‘We apologize because of this time delay,’ or this and that or whatever it is. It could have been anything. It could have been, ‘Hey man, we just don’t like you, we just don’t want you on the mic,’ you know? You could have told me whatever and I would have been happy, as long as you told me something. But I haven’t heard anything,” Bautista said.

Despite the silence, the 30-year-old contender isn’t letting it derail his momentum. In fact, he’s using the moment as motivation—and already has his next target in mind. Speaking about his next move, Bautista made it clear that he wants to break into the division’s elite, and a win over Umar Nurmagomedov could be the key.

“I wanted to get into that top five. Whoever was going to be in that top five—a win over any of them gets me into title contention… I like that Umar (Nurmagomedov) fight,” he explained.

“I like the Umar one. I think that one shoots me to the top the quickest. You know, I was gonna fight Chito—he’s coming off two losses. I guess Umar is coming off a loss too… There’s still a lotta hype.”

Nurmagomedov, known for his dominant grappling and undefeated aura before his last outing, still commands a high level of respect in the division. A win over him would catapult Bautista into conversations about a title shot, and the Arizona native knows it.

The UFC’s bantamweight division remains one of the most competitive weight classes in the sport. With contenders like Cory Sandhagen, Merab Dvalishvili, and Sean O’Malley battling for supremacy, Bautista’s push to break into the top five is timely and ambitious. Whether or not the UFC books the Nurmagomedov fight, Bautista’s recent performances prove he’s ready for elite competition.

After years of grinding and flying under the radar, Mario Bautista’s time in the spotlight is now. And he’s determined to make the most of it.