SALT LAKE CITY – Mario Bautista beat Jose Aldo with a split decision Saturday on the main card at UFC 307 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
Take a look inside the fight with Bautista, who ran his winning streak to seven fights and picked up the first win of his career against a former UFC champion.
Mario Bautista def. Jose Aldo
Oct 5, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Jose Aldo (red gloves) hugs Mario Bautista (blue gloves) after their fight during UFC 307 at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Result: Mario Bautista def. Jose Aldo via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Updated records: Bautista (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC), Aldo (32-9 MMA, 14-8 UFC)
Key stats: Bautista outstruck Aldo 90-75 and had nearly 50 percent of the fight in his favor for control time – a strategy that was criticized.
Bautista on the fight’s key moment
Oct 5, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Jose Aldo (red gloves) fights Mario Bautista (blue gloves) during UFC 307 at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
“The performance is what it is. I had to do what I had to do. I got caught in the second round. I got hit with something pretty good, and then I was able to drive through the fence. He has good takedown defense, but he cannot get off the cage. That’s not my fault. If that was me, I’m able to circle off the cage. Whatever the crowd thinks, what everyone thinks (by booing), that’s on him. He wasn’t getting off the fence (when we clinched), and I’m not going to let him off the fence. I try to take him down – he’s good right there. That’s something Merab (Dvalishvili) did (against Aldo), and and now look at him: He’s the champ.”
Bautista on Conor McGregor’s criticism
Jul 10, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Conor McGregor reacts following an injury suffered against Dustin Poirier during UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
“Conor can kiss my ass and he can fight whenever he’s supposed to take the fight against (Michael) Chandler. Shut up.”
Bautista on what he wants next
Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista, January 2019, UFC Fight Night 143
“I was thinking (Cory) Sandhagen, but he’s coming off a loss, and I’m seven (wins) in a row now. … I really won’t talk sh*t to anyone. But just having the crowd boo me (at UFC 307) and everything, it kind of brought it out of me a little bit. If you give it to me, I’ll give it right back to you, if that’s what you guys want to see.”
To hear more from Bautista, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.