José Aldo faced off against Mario Bautista in an intense match ahead of the co-main event at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City. “Scarface” once again displayed all his experience, but to no avail.
A stormy return. After his unanimous decision win over Jonathan Martinez last May, José Aldo now faced a serious title contender, Mario Bautista. Riding a 7-fight win streak, Bautista had the tools to put the Brazilian in a tough spot.
Round 1: Mario Bautista started strong, landing numerous strikes and delivering low-kicks before trapping José Aldo against the cage. After escaping, the Brazilian launched his counterattack with low kicks and solid defense. Taking control of the center of the cage, “Scarface” connected with combinations but was countered by Bautista’s right hand. By the end of the round, Aldo showed excellent energy management and timing.
Round 2: Still aggressive, Bautista pushed the pace early on, but Aldo’s punches pushed him back. With a cut near his eye, Bautista took a brutal knee to the body. Aldo looked fully in control, defending another takedown attempt. As the round ended, the fighters traded sequences, concluding with a flying knee from Bautista.
Round 3: José Aldo threw more strikes but failed to land anything significant. Bautista once again attempted a takedown, but Aldo defended it well, staying against the cage. Pushed by the fans in the arena, “Scarface” picked up the pace with his boxing as the final bell rang.
Baoutista wins by split decision, showcasing his skill in wrist control! 💪
باوتيستا يتغلب بقرار منقسم، ويظهر براعته في السيطرة على المعصمين! 💪
Baoutista l'emporte par décision partagée, montrant son habileté à contrôler les poignets ! 💪 pic.twitter.com/wejv6gKZeh
— mmamag.ma (@jamalsoussi10) October 6, 2024
The fight ended with a split decision in favor of Mario Bautista after a controversial performance. With a record of 9 wins and only 2 losses in the UFC, Bautista solidified his place as a bantamweight title contender, possibly earning a shot at the top 5 in the division.
