It was a statement win against Patchy Mix for Mario Bautista at UFC 316.

Bautista had the tall task of beating former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix in his UFC debut at the New Jersey Pay-Per-View just over a week ago. The now #9-ranked contender accomplished that mission with a display of boxing that would make any coach proud. Unfortunately, his impressive performance has been overshadowed by the fact that he wasn’t given a post-fight interview after pulling off the major upset.

FightCourt Gives Bautista the Mic He Deserved

Din Thomas, who was on the analyst crew for the UFC that night, made sure to give Mario his deserved moment on the mic during Din Thomas’ FightCourt. Din even issued an apology on behalf of the UFC. We caught up with Mario to talk about the win, his frustrations, and what’s next. He wasn’t shy with his answers.

A Clinical Performance in the Cage

Bautista started strong, landing several right hands to the head and body early to keep Patchy Mix honest. Straight shots to the body are a great way to halt an opponent’s forward pressure while scoring cleanly with the judges. This fight also showcased how well Bautista sets up his body attacks and kicks with feints and movement. Mario was relentless—keeping the fight in his striking range with smart footwork, pressure, and angles that complemented his crisp boxing.

Where Was the Post-Fight Interview?

Like many fans, we waited to hear what the winner had to say after his dominant upset. But that moment never came. As I mentioned on the podcast, I even checked my phone to make sure I was still watching the main card. Mario still isn’t sure why the post-fight interview never happened.

“Maybe I was thinking like we go in the back and they say something like, ‘We apologize because of this time delay,’ or this and that or whatever it is. It could have been anything. It could have been, ‘Hey man, we just don’t like you, we just don’t want you on the mic,’ you know? You could have told me whatever and I would have been happy, as long as you told me something. But I haven’t heard anything.”

Bautista Shoots His Shot on FightCourt

Din gave him the next best thing: a real platform to say what he would’ve said. He gave Mario the opportunity to sell himself and position for the future.

“I wanted to get into that top five. Whoever was going to be in that top five—a win over any of them gets me into title contention… I like that Umar (Nurmagomedov) fight.”

When asked to be specific, Mario doubled down:

“I like the Umar one. I think that one shoots me to the top the quickest. You know, I was gonna fight Chito—he’s coming off two losses. I guess Umar is coming off a loss too… There’s still a lotta hype.”

What’s Next for Mario Bautista?

Mario Bautista is currently riding an eight-fight win streak. To put that in perspective, the only other bantamweight with that kind of momentum is Merab Dvalishvili, who has won thirteen straight. Most of the top contenders are coming off losses, outside of Cory Sandhagen, who is expected to challenge Dvalishvili for the title next.

As a top-10 fighter with serious momentum, Bautista brings a lot to the table in one of the UFC’s most stacked divisions. A bout with Umar Nurmagomedov would be an exciting matchup—and one fans would love to see in the coming months.

Catch the full Mario Bautista interview on “Din Thomas’ FightCourt” right here.

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Even with what was an incredibly exciting and adrenaline producing finish Yoo seemed very calm in the post-fight. Remarkably calm.

“(I) expected this to happen so (I’m) very calm,” Yoo told reporters including Cageside Press through a translator at his post-fight scrum.

“(I) did see the opportunity that (Jeka) comes very aggressive. That’s why (I) just moved back and gave him a left check hook.”

Yoo (9-0) became an instant fan favorite with the quick finish. Saragih didn’t even know what happened when he came to following the fight.

“What (I) showed was just a tip of a mountain. There will be so much many things to watch,” he said.

Daniel Cormier, who works on the commentary team, compared it to the left hand that Conor McGregor landed on Jose Aldo to with the featherweight title at UFC 194. That knockout was 13 seconds into the fight.

“Conor McGregor, no. This is JooSang Yoo,” he said.

With the fight done and the win secured Yoo seemingly came out with no injuries. With just about half of 2025 left to go he could make a return rather quickly.

“If there’s a lot of fans awaiting my fight,” he said.

“Maybe tomorrow?”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with JooSang Yoo above.

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It’s something Salkilld values in following the likes of Robert Whittaker, Alexander Volkanovski and Jack Della Maddalena. Coming off the win over Yanal Ashmouz at UFC 316 that’s very high praise.

“They put us on the map. When I see another guy like me coming up the ranks their success puts more eyes on me,” Salkilld told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.

“Everyone obviously gets to build off that. Without them I wouldn’t be getting as much recognitions as I would be. Everyone knows now the talent pool in Australia, specially now in Perth, is becoming next level. A force to be dealt with.”

Up next for Salkilld is what he hopes is a home game in Perth later this year. With the UFC making Australia a yearly destination it’s become a stage for upcoming Australian talent.

“Heard rumors that it’s September. That gives me good time, I’m not too banged up after this one, a few weeks to kind of heal my little bumps and bruises,” he said.

“Get straight back in there and get into prep.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Quillan Salkilld above.

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“I do feel the support of the fans. It’s important that I have much more fans behind me,” Murzakanov told reporters including Cageside Press through a translator at his post-fight scrum.

Murzakanov (15-0) is in an odd position being what might be the most promising prospect at 205 pounds at 36-years-old. After completing his 5th UFC bout he’s ready to be more active in 2025.

“I definitely want to be more active this year. If I can do one or two more fights this year that would be great,” he said.

Two more fights in 2025, specially if they’re finishes, can find the light heavyweight in the title picture. He hopes for an opponent that will get him to the belt soon as possible.

“I would like to fight with anyone who can get me closer to the title fight,” said Murzakanov.

“Doesn’t matter who that person in.”

With the UFC having a lack of clear star power it’ll be interesting to see if Murzakanov’s performances get him to the front of the line.

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Azamat Murzakanov above.

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The prelims gave us exiting, highlight-reel performances from prospects like Joshua Van and Joo Sang Yoo, as well as another knockout for rising undefeated contender Azamat Murzakanov. The main card followed that up with two early contenders for ‘Submission of the Year’ as both Merab Dvalishvili and Kayla Harrison went home with the W. Let’s look at what should be next for our main card winners from Saturday.

Merab Dvalishvili

At 34 years old, the champion may have given us his best performance to date. This time around, there were no excuses for Sean O’Malley as he was vocal in leaving no stones unturned during this training camp. Yet, “Suga” succumbed to Dvalishvili by third-round submission at UFC 316. Merab didn’t even need all 25 minutes to be his usual overwhelming self.

This was the Georgian’s first rematch at the title level, and with another one possibly on the horizon should Petr Yan defeat Marcus McGhee in July, fans are craving fresh matchups for Dvalishvili. This is why Cory Sandhagen makes all the sense in the world. We knew that with a win over Deiveson Figueiredo a month ago he would cement himself as the number one contender. Sandhagen has a tricky style for anyone to deal with and he’s one of the only perennial top5 contenders of the division that Merab hasn’t faced yet.

Dvalishvili’s next fight: Cory Sandhagen

Kayla Harrison

This is an even easier call than Dvalishvili vs Sandhagen: it’s Amanda Nunes. The main storyline coming into this fight wasn’t even the fight itself, but rather who the winner would face. We knew that “The Lioness” was eyeing the winner. Had Peña pulled off the upset, we would’ve had a trilogy on our hands. However, we got what most would consider a far more intriguing matchup.

Being a two-time Olympic gold winner in judo, Harrison is one of the most accomplished combat sport athletes to capture a UFC title. She’s one of the only fighters that seemingly can match Nunes’ physical gifts. The stylistic matchup and the stakes attached to it automatically make this one of the most important fights in women’s MMA of the last decade or so.

Harrison’s next fight: Amanda Nunes

Joe Pyfer

After Abus Magomedov got past Michel Pereira in April, I penciled him against the winner of this Kelvin Gastelum vs Joe Pyfer fight. Now that Pyfer has emerged victorious at UFC 316, I still believe the matchup makes sense. Even if you don’t believe Pyfer should be getting a second crack at the rankings already, Magomedov is exactly in the tier of fighters that he should be facing. If Abus was unranked, I would probably still be booking this fight. It’s a good test for both and a decent name to add to their resumés. If they win their next fight, I also wouldn’t mind Gregory Rodrigues or Ikram Aliskerov, or even Cesar Almeida.

Pyfer’s next fight: Abus Magomedov

Mario Bautista

Though an impressive feat to spoil Patchy Mix’s long anticipated UFC debut, this still wasn’t the kind of performance that will boost Bautista’s fanbase. Point-fighting or not, Bautista outclassed Mix in the standup and is now riding an eight-fight win streak. Already being in the top 10 and accepting a short notice change of opponent should grant Bautista a shot at a top 5 name, which is what he called for.

As mentioned, Yan is booked with McGhee and Sandhagen is most likely fighting for the title. With O’Malley being his teammate, that leaves Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong. There’s a card in Shanghai in late August and it’s hard to picture that event without Song headlining it. Could Bautista make the turnaround and headline against Song? Potentially, but I think it’s more likely he waits until the fall and faces Umar in Abu Dhabi.

Bautista’s next fight: Umar Nurmagomedov

Kevin Holland

When Michael Morales beat Gilbert Burns, I wrote that I wasn’t convinced he should be facing top 5 opposition right away considering how green he still is. That’s why I had him face the winner of this Vicente Luque vs Kevin Holland bout at UFC 316 instead of someone like Leon Edwards. While my opinion on that hasn’t changed, I have changed my mind on who Holland should fight. After his submission win over Luque, I’d like to see him fight Carlos Prates instead of Morales.

I really dug Holland’s callout of Colby Covington, but I just prefer the idea of Covington fighting Michael “Venom” Page. Last time Holland faced a welterweight who could match his reach and length, he lost a comfortable decision to the aforementioned MVP. Let’s see if he can do better this time around.

 Holland’s next fight: Carlos Prates

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The Garden State hosted the UFC for the 21st time on Saturday, this time, with the card being headlined by a pair of bantamweight title fights. In the co-main event, former Olympian, Kayla Harrison, bested Julianna Pena to successfully capture the belt. And in the final fight of the night, a rematch between, Merab Dvalishvilli and Sean O’Malley, ‘The Machine’ submitted ‘Suga’ to retain his 135lb title once again. This five-fight main card was all action and boasted three submission finishes. Some well-known veterans on this edition of losers and one former Bellator champ with an abysmal debut.

Sean O’Malley

Merab Dvalishvili dominated and submitted Sean O’Malley in the third round of their title fight in the main event of UFC 316. The rematch- in the makings since O’Malley lost his belt to Merab, last September, was highly anticipated.

Thanks to Merab, O’Malley has now lost twice in a row for the first time in his pro career. Heading into the fight Sean was the #1 ranked contender. There are a couple of different directions that Sean could choose to take this train at this point. He could look to move up to the featherweight division to mix it up as he has a large frame for bantamweight. However, there are still real contenders at bantamweight should he want to try again for the belt. That said, the path to the title shot is filled with grappling heavy fighters. It’d likely be wise for Sean to avoid a matchup like Umar Nurmagomedov and instead opt for the winner of Marcus McGhee vs Petr Yan. The pair a scheduled to fight on July 26th. Yan is currently ranked at #2 while McGhee is getting a huge opportunity at #13.

Marcus is 4-0 in the UFC, stopping three of his opponents and earning as many performance bonuses. Marcus was last in action in November with his unanimous decision victory over Jonathan Martinez. Petr fought Sean back in 2022 losing a controversial split decision in a bout that landed Fight of the Night honors. Petr would then lose to Merab before bouncing back, winning unanimous decisions against Song Yadong and most recently, Deiveson Figueiredo. A striker’s delight in the making, no matter who wins. And the potential for the fans to see a very entertaining rematch that has a lot of bad blood behind it. Also potential for fans to see new blood in the division against another former champion. This is a good fight for Sean to get his bearings to see if he should potentially move up in the future.

O’Malley’s next fight: Winner of Petr Yan vs Marcus McGhee

Julianna Pena

Kayla Harrison took just two rounds to smoother and submit Julianna Pena on Saturday. Pena, who has struggled with activity due to injury over the course of her entire UFC career, is now 8-4 with the promotion. This is a tough pill for Pena to swallow, as Kayla looked a lot stronger than her in there.

Julianna has a couple of opponents that make sense for her to take on next. Pena could take on Ketlen Vieira who is ranked at #3 in the division.  Vieira has a similar UFC record to Pena at 9-4. And she has a split decision loss to Raquel Pennington and her most recent defeat is a unanimous decision to Kayla Harrison, last October. This is a matchup that makes a lot of sense except for the fact that Ketlen egregiously missed weight for her most recent fight against Macy Chiasson on May 30. Even though Vieira got the unanimous decision victory, the fight had to be moved up to 145lbs (she weighed in at 146lbs).

With that fact in mind, a more deserving opponent would be Norma Dumont. Norma, who is ranked at #4 at bantamweight, is 8-2 within the UFC. Dumont is currently riding a five-fight win streak with her most recent win coming over Irene Aldana in September of last year. Norma is ready to fight and a bout against Pena could offer a fresh a competitive matchup to the division. Booking this one comes down to timing and what Pena is thinking next for her career- leaning toward the Dumont matchup but that’s only if Dumont hasn’t done enough already to warrant a title shot (extremely doubtful).

Pena’s next fight: Ketlen Vieira or Norma Dumont

Kelvin Gastelum

Joe Pyfer found success on the feet at UFC 316 on Saturday, dropping Kelvin Gastelum twice on the way to a unanimous decision victory. Both middleweight fighters were presumably narrowly outside of the rankings. Gastelum is now 2-2 since mid 2021 but has had five fights cancelled in the time frame as well. Somehow, The Ultimate Fighter Season 17 winner is still just 33 years old. A smaller middleweight, with no chance of a welterweight move due to his weight cutting history, Gastelum will have to be extremely selective with his matchups.

We could realistically see Kelvin taking on any number of opponents in his next fight. But ideally, Kelvin should fight Gerald Meerschaert in his next bout. Meerschaert is 12-11 in the UFC since being signed in 2016. The submission specialist is currently riding a two-fight losing streak but has fought nearly everyone at middleweight. Gerald is 3-3 in his last six fights including a 2023 first round TKO loss to Joe Pyfer. Gerald was last in action back in April when he lost a unanimous decision to Brad Tavares. The grappling prowess of Meerschaert vs the explosiveness, boxing and wrestling of Gastelum. Good fight for the fans. Winner firmly secures themselves in the gatekeeper status at the weight class. Loser could have a tough time gaining respect moving forward especially if the fight ends with a finish.

Gastelum’s next fight: Gerald Meerschaert

Patchy Mix

UFC newcomer and former Bellator champion Patchy Mix had no answer for Mario Bautista‘s standup on his way to a unanimous decision loss Saturday.  Mix stepped in after Bautista’s original opponent, #7 ranked Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera, was forced to withdraw due to injury.

Mario made his UFC debut against Corey Sandhagen in 2019- heading into Saturday he was riding a seven-fight win streak including victories over Ricky Simon and Jose Aldo. Even though Bautista is ranked at #10 he’s super tough. No excuses though, it was an ugly and head-scratching performance out of Patchy. With that said, Mix will need to establish where he fits within the ranks by getting in the win column in his next bout.

Giving Patchy the loser of Cody Garbrandt vs Raoni Barcelos could make a lot of sense. The two bantamweights just outside of the top 15 ranks are scheduled to fight on June 14th. Logic here is that Cody is a former UFC bantamweight champion himself. But he has stumbled in recent years in the form of numerous cancelled fights, injuries and Cody is 2-3 since mid-2020. Garbrandt was last in action in April of last year when he was submitted by Deiveson Figueiredo. Bracelos is a 12-fight UFC vet that has been with the promotion since 2018. Raoni is 2-2 in his last four fights, but those two losses are against Umar Nurmagomedov and Kyler Phillips. The 38-year-old bested hot-prospect, Payton Talbott, in his last time in the cage back in January.

Either way, a fight against either man would offer Mix an immediate chance to regain some lost respect. Both men are respectable opponents but have displayed some chinks in their armor in recent bouts. Good test to find out where Patchy belongs.

Mix’s next fight: Loser of Cody Garbrandt vs. Raoni Barcelos

Vicente Luque

Vicente Luque weathered some good shots early, only to be submitted in the second round of his UFC 316 main card opener, against Kevin Holland, on Saturday. Luque entered the fight ranked at #14 in the welterweight division while his opponent was unranked. Luque has struggled in recent years and he’s 2-4 since 2021. In comparison, before that, Luque was on a 10-1 streak within the UFC.

Vicente is 16-7 with the UFC in his 10th year with promotion. He will likely slide out of the top 15 welterweight rankings.

Sticking with a pick from a recent edition of Losers, Luque should take on Gilbert Burns in his next fight. Gilbert last fought on May 17th in a main event against Michael Morales. He was TKO’d midway thru the first round. The loss was his fourth in a row and he has not won since his April of 2023 victory against Jorge Masvidal. Gilbert is still ranked at #10 within the welterweight division and has had some extremely daunting opponents in recent years (Michael Morales, Sean Brady, Jack Della Maddalena, Belal Muhammad). At 38 years old, Burns isn’t done yet but would be a good matchup for a fighter like Luque.

The timing matches up and somehow these two UFC vets haven’t faced each other before. Easy booking to make here that could easily be a co-main event type fight. Winner claws right back into relevancy while the loser likely gets the official ‘journeyman’ title.

Vicente’s next fight: Gilbert Burns

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After a deluge of trash talk, Pena had little to no answer for Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo and two-time PFL women’s lightweight champ, in Newark on Saturday. Harrison looked bigger, stronger, was able to get Pena down, and eventually picked up the sub, absorbing little damage in the process.

Thus ended Julianna Pena’s second title reign in the UFC, with no successful title defenses in either. Now, she’s looking ahead, hoping to land a fight against the winner of Harrison versus Amanda Nunes.

“Thank you to the fans who lifted me with your love and encouragement during this fight camp,” Pena wrote on social media in response to the loss. “I love you all and feel so grateful for all the support and energy you guys give me—It truly means the world! I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get the job done. I’m super disappointed but hats off to Kayla on her win!”

“Time to get healed up and get ready for her next fight because I’m calling dibs on the winner!” she finished.

Harrison vs. Nunes has been talked about for years, but after “The Lioness” lost her title to Pena in December of 2021, talk of the fight hit the backburner. Nunes would avenge the loss, claiming her belt back in an immediate rematch, but retired following UFC 289 in Vancouver in 2023, after defeating Irene Aldana. At the time, Harrison was still under contract to the PFL.

MMA retirements rarely seem to stick, however. With Harrison arriving in the UFC last year and working her way to the title, talk has swirled of a Nunes comeback. That was confirmed on Saturday when Nunes entered the cage following Harrison’s victory, confirming that she would indeed make her return to fighting before the pair faced off.

As for Pena, she’s 1-1 against Nunes and 0-1 against Harrison. Whether the UFC is interested in booking her against either fighter while coming off a loss remains to be seen.

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On Saturday night, they got a firsthand look at the humble individual who is grateful for her position as a world-class athlete holding the coveted title. The one thing I take away from Kayla, both from seeing her at American Top Team (ATT) and post-fight, is that she genuinely wants everyone to win. We are all aware of the charitable work she does (more discussed below with a link), as well as her relationship with her children, but let’s take another peek at why she is great for the sport.

Kayla Signs with the UFC

UFC fans can be insular. They rarely support fighters coming from outside the organization and tend to paint them as a “big bad wolf.” Kayla got caught up in this theme, and she handled it gracefully. She stayed true to herself, didn’t pivot from her competitive demeanor, and stayed humble in the process. In the age of athletes developing personas in MMA to brand themselves, her genuine nature is a breath of fresh air and a shining example of why she is a role model for kids and young adults.

How She Handled Winning the Belt

Immediately after winning the championship belt, she sought out her opponent to share a moment of prayer and well wishes moving forward. As with any big fight, there was a public display of trash talk. This is to be expected with training and microphones constantly in your face while the endorphins are flowing. The embrace was a great show of sportsmanship and respect, as well as calling Amanda Nunes to the cage to give her due before they enter hand-to-hand combat. This is the martial arts we grew up on, and it’s nice to see it’s still alive as Kayla and others like her work to pass it on.

Kayla Harrison as a teammate at American Top Team

Harrison came to ATT as I was transitioning from my fighting career to coaching full-time. She would spar with several of my amateurs, and this was when I learned what an exceptional teammate she was. Often in these situations, big-name fighters would use the juniors as a body for training and forget about them. Kayla was very supportive of their career growth and them as a person. She was always checking in to see how they were doing, when they were competing again, with interest in attending or if they needed a corner. This would light up their day. Personally, as a coach, it leveled up the whole room knowing the athletes had that kind of support from such an accomplished individual. It puts a real positive vibe in the training room and supports the culture. I need to thank her for that.

I recall one time, one of my fighters that had trained with her lost because he was outwrestled in a fight. When Kayla found out, she was less than pleased that he didn’t call her to get extra training for the event. She was vehement that he would get hold of her next time he fought a similar opponent. I could instantly see his spirits were lifted, his body language changed, and he was ready to get back on the horse in training. There is nothing better for an amateur or prospect than to have a fighter you are aspiring to be like have your back like that.

Kayla Harrison is great for the UFC. She’s counter to the brash characteristics of what we’re used to seeing and has a positive influence on fans. Recent stars may exhibit behavior that parents may want their kids to shy away from, but now they have Kayla to take from. As someone who’s had conversation with her in and out of training, I’m happy for both her and Mixed Martial Arts that she is carrying the torch. Her fight with Amanda Nunes is going to be one for the ages, and I am glad they set the tone the way they did after UFC 316. And that face-off!!!

Fearless Foundation

Kayla Harrison “Fearless Foundation” is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing and supporting survivors of child sexual abuse. For my information and to donate to the cause, please click the link below

https://www.fearlessfoundation.org/

The post Kayla Harrison Is More Than a Champion: She’s a Role Model appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I feel like I didn’t show my skill fully, I only showed a little bit. I improved so much in training, but I didn’t just go,” she told media outlets including Cageside Press following the bout, which saw China’s Cong (8-1) capture a unanimous decision and defeat her first ranked opponent in the process.

She’d later explain, speaking via translator, that “I feel like I’m still kind of conservative in the octagon. I feel like I should open my character.”

“I should be crazy like [the] Joker,” she added, a nod to the Clown Prince of Crime, a character she portrays at weigh-ins and whom her nickname comes from.

While she might want to channel The Joker, it was Team Alpha Male, Urijah Faber and company, helping Wang Cong to victory on Saturday. She’s now trained with the team for a short time.

“They helped me so much, they made me feel very confident there. I feel I need more time, I need to learn more skills, and I will put on more exciting performances.”

With the goal of becoming a UFC champion, flyweight Cong also feels that Saturday’s performance has shown where the holes in her game are. “I feel like this fight made me know where my shortages are. I will go back and train like crazy.”

Watch the full UFC 316 post-fight media appearance by Wang Cong above.

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Gustafsson was supposed to face Jeremiah Wells, then Trevin Giles, at last week’s UFC Vegas 107. After both men were forced out of the fight, Gustafsson was shifted to UFC 316, where he earned a unanimous decision in a welterweight fight with Khaos “The Ox Fighter” Williams.

“It’s been a troubling two weeks,” Gustafsson (12-2) admitted following a successful promotional debut. “Two pull outs, two weight cuts, two fight weeks. So I’m really happy to be here, I’m happy to get the win. I feel super.”

Gustafsson, following in the footsteps of the likes of Alexander Gustafsson and Jack Hermansson, represents Sweden, and he’s bringing a Viking mentality to his preparation.

“I never watch tape. Never. I never watch my opponents, I never study them, I just do my things,” he explained, speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press at the Prudential Center. “Like I told some people before, back in the day when the Viking wakes up in the morning, they don’t go study their opponents before they get out in the battlefield. They just grab their axe and go berserk. Live or die.”

That said, the Swede will now take a bit of time off, and lead a normal life, before getting back in the gym. “Of course I want to stay active, but a couple of weeks now, vacation, absolutely. I just want to go home now to my wife and kid. I know they miss me, I think they want to keep me home for a couple of weeks.”

Despite that, Gustafsson will be ready to go all out soon enough. Or as he put it, “I’m always going to bring full retard. That’s the way I am.”

Watch the full UFC 316 post-fight media appearance by Andreas Gustafsson above.

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