Mario Bautista brought his impressive three-fight winning streak into a bout with the oldest bantamweight in the UFC, Guido Cannetti, at UFC Las Vegas.
Cannetti, an Argentinian, has also been able to put together a winning streak despite being forty-three years old in a division where aging reduces much-needed speed. As the biggest underdog on the card, Cannetti looked to pull off the upset against a fighter who many thought of as a potential future top-15 contender in Bautista, who was 5-2 in the UFC with three finishes in the promotion. Meanwhile, Cannetti came in with a 4-5 UFC record.
Both fighters came out southpaw and Bautista immediately pressed forward. Both also threw big, wild kicks to start. Mario then took Guido down with ease only 20 seconds in, landing in top half-guard. Bautista worked to pass to mount but Cannetti was not easy to blow through on the mat. He changed tactics and tried to get to side control. Guido managed to scramble to the feet and then trip Bautista himself, landing in top side control. However, Bautista wrestled up and slammed Cannetti to the mat. With a slick move he took the back and locked up the body triangle.
Bautista attacked the rear-naked choke on a standing Cannetti, who fought the hands and managed to clear the hooks. Then Bautista suddenly suplexed his foe, transitioned immediately to the back again, and locked up the rear-naked choke all in a split second. Cannetti had no chance, he was forced to tap after only a moment.
Bantamweights beware. #UFCLasVegas pic.twitter.com/ihZBsDe2Il
— UFC (@ufc) March 12, 2023
This quick, first round win was another impressive victory for Mario Bautista and surely will now earn him a top-15 or fringe ranked opponent in the stacked bantamweight division. The well-rounded mixed martial artist now has three first round finishes in a row and eyes are turning his way more and more every fight. In his post-fight interview he called for a top-15 fight, but said that if he does not get it he would like to fight former champion Cody Garbrandt, who just won last week at UFC 285.
Official Result: Mario Bautista def. Guido Cannetti by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 3:18
