One top contender thinks UFC 321 will be the event at which he finally secures his title shot.
After zero pay-per-views in September, the UFC will stage two numbered events in October. Following UFC 320 in Las Vegas to kick off the month, the sport’s leading promotion will close it out with its annual trip to Abu Dhabi.
The stakes will be high at UFC 321, where two titles will be on the line. Before heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall defends his gold against Ciryl Gane, a new strawweight queen will be crowned in the co-main event between Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba.
Those four are far from the only athletes competing with something major on the line, and among the others is a rising bantamweight contender who believes he has paid his dues.
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Mario Bautista says UFC 321 win must earn him a first title shot
Mario Bautista will be one of the notable names setting the stage for UFC 321’s championship doubleheader, as he looks to secure his own spot in a title fight down the line.
The MMA Lab product has won eight fights in a row but has remained out of the championship conversation to date. That’s seemingly been down to some performances deemed lackluster by fans, including Bautista’s win over Jose Aldo in 2024.
But after extending his streak against highly regarded newcomer Patchy Mix this past June, the 32-year-old thinks his claim to a title shot will be undeniable should he get past Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 321 on October 25.
“I think it has to,” Bautista said on MMA Junkie Radio when asked whether another win should earn him a title fight.
“If you look at it, it’s gonna be nine straight wins. Getting this win and my last three performances — Aldo, Patchy, and then Umar — nine-fight winning streak, I don’t know what else you could possibly do.
“I think that’s exactly what Merab (Dvalishvili) had,” Bautista continued. “He had to really fight for that title shot. Hopefully he sees that and gives me that same kind of grace and we’ll figure something out.”
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Merab Dvalishvili supports Mario Bautista’s claim and hopes he ‘whoops’ Umar Nurmagomedov
Fortunately for Bautista, it seems like Dvalishvili is more than willing to reward him for his recent run of victories.
Ahead of Dvalishvili’s UFC 320 defense against Cory Sandhagen, the Georgian champ looked ahead to what could await him should he get past ‘The Sandman’ and remain on the bantamweight throne.
“I hope Bautista whoops Umar’s a— and I will fight Bautista next because Bautista is a good, good fighter,” Dvalishvili told MMA Junkie.
“He is on a good winning streak. He beat a lot of good guys and he’s most deserving guy, too.
“Bautista’s cousin’s name is not Khabib. That’s why he needs to have a nine-fight win streak to maybe, maybe fight for the belt,” Dvalishvili added.