Umar Nurmagomedov showcased his trademark pressure and technical wrestling to defeat Mario Bautista by unanimous decision in their three-round bout at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. All three judges scored the contest 30-27, marking a composed and methodical return for the Dagestani prospect after his first professional loss earlier this year.
From the opening exchange, Nurmagomedov relied on his timing to counter Bautista’s kicks, closing distance for quick takedowns and steady control. Bautista tried to answer from the bottom, rolling for a toe-hold attempt in the first round that forced Nurmagomedov to defend carefully before passing guard and taking the back. Maintaining a tight body triangle, Nurmagomedov stayed patient, searching for openings while limiting Bautista’s movement.
The second round briefly swung toward Bautista when he landed a clean knee that dropped the Russian for a moment. Nurmagomedov recovered quickly, re-establishing his grappling dominance and dragging the fight back to the mat. Bautista scrambled out several times, but each escape led to another takedown as Nurmagomedov pressed forward with constant pressure.
By the final frame, Bautista’s defense remained spirited, yet Nurmagomedov’s conditioning and control dictated the tempo. He blended straight punches and quick kicks on the feet before returning to clinches and trips that sealed the scorecards in his favor.
A big knee from @Bautista_MMA early in round two 👀 #UFC321 pic.twitter.com/0I2EHwn1JS
— UFC (@ufc) October 25, 2025
Put all his skills on display tonight 👏@UNmgdv gets the unanimous decision victory at #UFC321! pic.twitter.com/qFsmvpchJD
— UFC (@ufc) October 25, 2025
Afterward, Nurmagomedov admitted he expected an easier night but took the lesson in stride:
“To be honest I underestimated him a little bit. He was tough, good defense. Today, I understand I’m an amateur in this game. I always try to do like [Khabib Nurmagomedov] but I can’t.”
Looking ahead, he made clear his championship intent:
“Merab Dvalishvili–Petr Yan, believe me, I will be ready, 100 times better than today. I will come to take this belt. It doesn’t matter who it’s going to be. I will become champion.”
Statistically, Nurmagomedov completed ten takedowns in three rounds, neutralizing nearly every offensive burst from Bautista. The performance puts him back among the top rising names at 135 pounds and re-centers his run toward a future title shot.
