Patchy Mix’s highly anticipated UFC debut ended in disappointment as Mario Bautista delivered a dominant performance at UFC 316, handing the former Bellator bantamweight champion a unanimous decision loss in Newark, New Jersey..
Bautista, now riding an eight-fight win streak, outclassed Mix in every round, with judges scoring the bout 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28. Mix, who entered as a 2-to-1 favorite and was widely expected to make a statement, struggled to find his rhythm against Bautista’s sharp striking and fluid combinations. Despite his reputation for grappling, Mix was unable to impose his ground game, as Bautista defended takedowns and controlled the action on the feet..
This upset comes after Mix’s successful Bellator run, where he captured the title and defended it twice before joining the UFC. The loss marks his first since 2020 and puts a temporary halt to his title aspirations in the UFC’s stacked bantamweight division.
Bautista’s victory adds another big name to his resume, following a recent win over former featherweight champion Jose Aldo. With this statement performance, Bautista cements his place among the division’s elite, while Mix is left to regroup and plot his comeback.
The result has already sparked conversation among fans and managers, including Ali Abdelaziz, about what’s next for both fighters in a division packed with contenders. Will Mix bounce back and fulfill his championship promise, or has Bautista’s win reshuffled the bantamweight pecking order? The division just got a lot more interesting.
