Speaking at UFC 316 media day in Newark, N.J., former Bellator champion Patchy Mix addressed a range of topics as he prepared for his long-awaited octagon debut. He shared his feelings about finally competing under the UFC banner, expressed confidence that a victory over Mario Bautista would significantly boost his standing in the bantamweight title picture, discussed the positive influence of his relationship with UFC strawweight contender Tatiana Suarez on his career, among other subjects.
Boasting a professional record of 20-1, Mix was widely considered the premier bantamweight fighter outside the UFC prior to signing with the promotion in May. He is stepping into the bout against Bautista as a replacement for Marlon Vera, a seasoned contender who withdrew for undisclosed reasons. Since suffering his only professional loss in September 2020 to Juan Archuleta, Mix has compiled an impressive seven-fight winning streak, securing notable victories over fighters like Kyoji Horiguchi, Sergio Pettis, and Raufeon Stots.
Mario Bautista, holding a record of 15-2, also enters Saturday`s contest riding significant momentum with his own seven-fight win streak. He is coming off a split decision win against former champion Jose Aldo in October 2023 and is looking to seize this opportunity against Mix, hoping to absorb some of his opponent`s considerable hype and solidify his own position as a top contender for the UFC bantamweight championship.
