Following his victory at UFC 316, Mario Bautista has set his sights on a fight against a former UFC Champion. However, potential injuries could jeopardize this plan.
At the New Jersey event, the American fighter defeated newcomer Patchy Mix via a judges` decision after three intense rounds on the undercard.
This notable win at UFC 316 boosted Mario Bautista to the ninth position in the UFC Bantamweight rankings, a weight class currently topped by champion Merab Dvalishvili.
As he advances towards a potential title shot, Bautista is aiming for a former champion as his next opponent, though injuries might prevent this matchup from happening.
Bautista Seeks `Top Five` Opponent: Umar Nurmagomedov or Deiveson Figueiredo
Bautista appears to be targeting a fight against one of the leading contenders in the Bantamweight division, but injury issues could interfere with these plans.
In an interview with MiddleEasy, Bautista mentioned Umar Nurmagomedov and Deiveson Figueiredo as possible opponents for his upcoming bout.
However, he acknowledged that a knee injury Figueiredo sustained at UFC Des Moines will influence whether that fight can realistically occur in 2025.
Bautista stated, “I definitely want a top-five fight or something really close… I like that Umar fight, and I like Figgy [Deiveson Figueiredo] if his knee’s good by the end of the year. Ideally, though, someone in the top five who can get me closer to a title shot. With a win over Umar, I’m 100% right there. There’s no denying me at that point. I need a fight like that.”
Deiveson Figueiredo`s Leg Injury Against Cory Sandhagen
A fight with Figueiredo is uncertain due to the injury he sustained against Cory Sandhagen in their main event fight at UFC Des Moines last month.
During the bout, the Brazilian fighter suffered an unusual knee injury, leading the referee to stop the fight in the second round against the #4-ranked contender.
Sandhagen described his win as “flawless,” noting that his strategy unfolded as planned, notwithstanding the injury inflicted on his opponent`s knee.
The exact severity of the injury and the expected recovery time before Figueiredo can compete again have not been disclosed.
Figueiredo reportedly intends to return quickly, but it remains to be seen if he will be recovered in time to potentially face Bautista in his next UFC appearance.
