ABU DHABI – Mario Bautista took a lot away from Umar Nurmagomedov’s first career loss to Merab Dvalishvili.
Bautista (16-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) meets Nurmagomedov (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in a bantamweight on Saturday’s UFC 321 (ESPN+ pay-per-view, FX/Disney+/ESPN+) main card at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
Nurmagomedov will look to rebound from his title-fight loss to Dvalishvili at UFC 311 in January, when he won the first two rounds on two of the judges’ scorecards before “The Machine” rallied to beat him. Bautista didn’t see the outcome as controversial.
“No, I had Merab winning that fight,” Bautista told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I feel like he just took over those last three and four and five rounds. Then a little bit of showmanship in there and just having control of the fight. I had Merab winning.”
Bautista saw Nurmagomedov slow down in the latter rounds against Dvalishvili. Although their fight is only three rounds, he plans on mimicking certain things Dvalishvili did.
“I mainly look at the Merab fight, like I said Rounds 3, 4, and 5, Merab put the pressure on him, and he kind of set a blueprint,” Bautista said. “No one else really wrestled Umar. So, just sticking to your game plan, not worrying where he’s from, what gym, this and that. Go out there and fight your best and stick to your game plan.
“It’s gonna get down to the mat, there’s going to be moments where he seems to be winning, moments where I come back, vice versa. So, I think that’s what makes this fight exciting. We’re both well rounded, both good in all areas so, it’s going to be very interesting.”
