Mario Bautista unfazed by Jose Aldo bout criticism, but guarantees UFC 316 will be different
Mario Bautista unfazed by Jose Aldo bout criticism, but guarantees UFC 316 will be different
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UFC 316: Mario Bautista media day interview
UFC 316 fighter Mario Bautista spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters at media day for his main card bout vs. Patchy Mix.
MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Mario Bautista is going to keep doing him.
The blowback from his fight vs. Jose Aldo was heard loud and clear, but Bautista (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) remains unfazed. He's in it to win it, which is what he did in October – and what he plans to do again Saturday at UFC 316 vs. Patchy Mix.
"No, I'm not looking to go out there and change anything and make those fans happy," Bautista told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. "At the end of the day, it doesn't really even matter. I'm on a seven-fight winning streak. I'd understand if all seven of those fights were the same way. I would understand, but each fight is different. I can guarantee this fight will be a lot different."
Bautista's fight is featured predominantly on the main card at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Initially scheduled to fight Marlon Vera, Bautista will attempt to play spoiler to the highly-anticipated UFC debut of the former Bellator bantamweight champion Mix (20-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC). He's embracing the moment.
"This whole week and the things he's been saying have just been making me laugh," Bautista said. "He just kind of seems like an angry guy for some reason. He's talking about submitting me and then submitting my 60-year-old coach. I highly doubt he could run through my whole crew. There are some people in the gym who would make him look like a purple belt, so I think he's a little wrong there. Like you said, he's saying what he had to say to sell himself. Yeah, I think it's kind of funny."
While he has faith in his teammates' abilities, Bautista is not discrediting the hype around Mix. Like many others, Bautista sang Mix's praises.
"I think he's really good," Bautista said. "I've heard gym stories of him beating certain people who do really well in this division. There are younger guys coming up right now who are way better than some of us who are in the top 10. So for him to say he would go through my whole crew, I think he'd be a little bit embarrassed at my gym."
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