Mario Bautista discussed his momentum and what he wants next around the UFC Vegas 113 fight week. In a UFC.com feature published during the event buildup, he said he was excited for the future and talked about chasing the division’s elite as he prepared for his first UFC main event. The piece matters because it frames Bautista as a rising bantamweight with title-level ambitions and gives a direct read on his mindset entering a high-profile headliner.
Mario Bautista made clear during UFC Vegas 113 fight week that he has his sights set firmly on the top of the bantamweight division, using a UFC.com feature published in the event buildup to outline his ambitions and frame his mindset heading into his first UFC main event slot.
The 33-year-old American, who trains out of MMA Lab, enters the headliner carrying a 17-3 record and a No. 10 ranking at 135 pounds. Bautista has built his reputation as one of the more well-rounded fighters in the division, averaging 5.3 significant strikes landed per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also posing a consistent threat on the mat with 1.91 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes. That blend of pressure striking and grappling capability has pushed him into the upper tier of a loaded bantamweight landscape.
In the UFC.com piece, Bautista expressed genuine excitement about what lies ahead, speaking about chasing the division's elite and positioning this main event opportunity as a stepping stone toward title contention.
Why it matters
- A strong performance in his first UFC headliner could push Bautista from No. 10 toward the top five in a competitive bantamweight division.
- His balanced offensive output, both striking and grappling, makes him a stylistic threat to ranked opponents above him.
- The feature signals the UFC is treating Bautista as a marketable rising contender, giving him a platform typically reserved for fighters in serious title conversations.
