Mexican middleweight Jose Daniel Medina welcomed Ateba Gautier to the octagon at UFC Mexico City on Saturday.
The fight served as the preliminary card’s featured prelim, and found Gautier entering off a knockout victory on Dana White’s Contender Series last September.
The fight started with a power jab and outside leg kick from Gautier. Medina was unfazed but did eat an uppercut soon after. Medina was composed but lacked urgency early on. Gautier was also composed but sill throwing and landing with impact. Medina was fully okay with taking some big shots from Gautier, possibly hoping he’d tire out. Gautier was doing a really good job of leading with the left hand, whether it was with the jab or hook. He started to throw behind the left, finding a home with the right. Gautier hurt Medina with a left hand. Medina called him on, and Gautier obliged. He swarmed with his hands, and it was a knee that put Medina down, leading to the ref stopping it.
After the fight, Ateba Gautier told UFC analyst Daniel Cormier that he had the ability to knock anybody out. As to his success, “I always listen to my coaches,” said Gautier. “That’s the secret.”
Official Result: Ateba Gautier def. Jose Daniel Medina by KO (knee), Round 1, 3:32
