Former Bellator MMA bantamweight champ Patchy Mix made his highly anticipated UFC debut on Saturday, facing the #10-ranked 135’er in the promotion, Mario Bautista.
While Bautista was coming in on a seven-fight win streak and had last been seen earning a controversial decision over Jose Aldo, Mix had been deemed the favorite in the fight. Thanks in no small part to wins over the likes of Sergio Pettis, Raufeon Stots, James Gallagher and Magomed Magomedov, among bothers.
Round one opened with Bautista immediately going to work, landing crisp right hands to the body. Mix stood stationary, absorbing the shots without offering much in return. Bautista began to open up, tagging Mix with a sharp right to the chin before going right back downstairs. He varied his attack beautifully, targeting the head, body, and legs, while Mix appeared flat-footed and unsure of how to respond. Bautista’s strategy was simple but effective: repeatedly find a home for that right hand. It was a dominant round for Bautista, who battered Mix while barely absorbing anything himself.
Round two began with a heavy body kick from Bautista, who kept the pressure and output high. Mix continued to struggle with Bautista’s pace and activity, showing little offense. At one point, he grazed Bautista with a head kick, a rare moment of success that seemed to spark some confidence, only for Mix to fail to capitalize. Known for his grappling, Mix couldn’t find his range or rhythm as Bautista stayed in control and dictated the tempo throughout the round.
In round three, Mix showed more urgency, pressing forward and even shooting for a takedown, which Bautista easily stuffed. From there, Bautista managed the clock and distance expertly, circling the cage and staying out of danger while continuing to mix his strikes. It was a clean, composed, and dominant showing from Bautista across all three rounds—a performance that highlighted his fight IQ and well-rounded striking
Official Result: Mario Bautista def. Pathy Mix by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
