At UFC Fight Night on Saturday at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Mario Bautista showcased his top contender status in the men’s bantamweight division by submitting Vinicius Oliveira in the second round. Bautista secured a rear-naked choke to end the contest, handing Oliveira his first submission loss and marking a strong return to the win column.
Prior to the bout, Oliveira had dismissed Bautista as a dull fighter, yet during the fight, the Brazilian found himself on the defensive for much of the time. This fight was the UFC main event debut for both athletes. Bautista, making his 14th UFC appearance, was ranked No. 9 in the bantamweight division, and he will remain in the top 10 following this victory. Oliveira, in his fifth UFC fight and holding a 4-0 record before this match, had climbed to No. 11 but now faces setbacks in his climb up the rankings.
Details of Bautista’s Victory and Career Milestone
Bautista had his eight-fight winning streak ended in October by Umar Nurmagomedov, losing by decision after being outwrestled. However, against Oliveira, Bautista displayed strong grappling skill, turning the tide by reversing Oliveira with a slick sweep late in the second round. He gained top control, smoothly moved to side control, and inflicted effective ground strikes from a crucifix position before taking Oliveira’s back and locking in the submission choke to finish the fight.
This marked Bautista’s first stoppage victory in nearly three years. The 32-year-old American, training at the MMA Lab in Arizona, has compiled an 11-3 UFC record since 2019 and boasts a notable win over former UFC champion Jose Aldo. Following his impressive win, Bautista openly challenged No. 4 contender Cory Sandhagen to a rematch, expressing a desire to avenge his 2019 debut loss to Sandhagen, which ended in a first-round armbar submission.
Kyoji Horiguchi Advances Flyweight Title Ambitions with Decision Win
In the co-main event, Kyoji Horiguchi extended his undefeated streak to eight fights by defeating Amir Albazi via decision. Horiguchi’s return to the UFC in November, after spending nine years fighting across various promotions, has been triumphant. The Japanese flyweight star previously amassed a 7-1 UFC record between 2013 and 2016, with his sole defeat coming against Demetrious Johnson in a title bout at UFC 186.
Since 2022, Horiguchi has remained unbeaten across seven fights and recently secured a submission win over Tagir Ulanbekov. At 35 years old, Horiguchi has proven to be a significant threat in the 125-pound division. His victory over Albazi, ranked No. 6 despite limited competition in recent years, prompted Horiguchi to call out reigning champion Joshua Van for a potential title shot.
Jailton Almeida’s Momentum Slows with Uninspiring Loss to Rizvan Kuniev
Brazilian heavyweight Jailton Almeida’s progress towards a title shot has faltered once again after a unanimous decision loss to Rizvan Kuniev. Almeida, 34, needed a solid performance following a split decision defeat to Alexander Volkov in October but was unable to impress in a lackluster fight that saw him remain takedownless for the first time in 11 UFC appearances.
Initially viewed as a clear future title challenger with a 6-0 UFC start, Almeida’s recent record has become mixed, dropping to 2-3 over his last five fights. Meanwhile, Kuniev, 33, from Dagestan, Russia, who previously challenged UFC heavyweight Curtis Blaydes to a split decision in his debut, is unranked but is expected to rise soon after defeating the No. 6 contender in Almeida.
Dustin Jacoby Delivers Third Straight KO/TKO with Second-Round Finish
Dustin Jacoby, 37, from Colorado, added another highlight to his recent run by knocking out Julius Walker in the second round of their light heavyweight bout. Jacoby hurt Walker early in Round 2 and maintained relentless pressure until the referee stopped the fight. After the victory, Jacoby advocated for a place on the anticipated June event at the White House, underscoring his desire to compete at the highest level.
Middleweight Showdown: Michał Oleksiejczuk Edges Marc-Andre Barriault in Striking Duel
Michał Oleksiejczuk and Marc-Andre Barriault provided nonstop action across three rounds, delivering a total of 222 significant strikes. Oleksiejczuk secured a split decision victory, winning two rounds on all judges’ scorecards. The Polish fighter set a personal record by landing 143 significant strikes during the fight, demonstrating superior speed and pressure from his southpaw stance as he targeted Barriault’s head and body.
Barriault, a Canadian who will turn 36 soon, struggled with Oleksiejczuk’s pace early on but found better rhythm later in the fight. Barriault has now lost two straight bouts after a 1-1 split in 2025, including a Fight of the Night loss to Sharabutdin Magomedov. Oleksiejczuk, aged 30, has won three consecutive fights, riding momentum from back-to-back first-round stoppage wins over Sedriques Dumas and Gerald Meerschaert.
Farid Basharat Maintains Undefeated Record with Narrow Win
Farid Basharat narrowly extended his professional MMA unbeaten streak to 15-0 by winning a split decision against Jean Matsumoto. Since his UFC debut in 2023, Basharat has gone 6-0 and expressed a wish to face top-ranked bantamweight contenders moving forward. Most of Basharat’s UFC victories have come by decision, showcasing his consistency and tactical approach. Notably, his older brother, Javid, also recorded a decision win earlier on the preliminary card.
Significance and Outlook for UFC Bantamweight and Flyweight Divisions
Mario Bautista’s submission win over Vinicius Oliveira sends a strong message about his continued relevance among the bantamweight elite, potentially shaping up future high-stakes matchups, especially his rematch with Cory Sandhagen. Both fighters’ trajectories reflect the evolving competitive landscape of UFC’s 135-pound division.
Kyoji Horiguchi’s steady climb in the flyweight rankings and callout of champion Joshua Van hint at exciting developments for the division’s title picture. Meanwhile, the struggles of Jailton Almeida highlight how narrowly career momentum can shift in the heavyweight class.
Other performers like Dustin Jacoby, Michał Oleksiejczuk, and Farid Basharat demonstrate the depth of talent rising within the UFC, offering fans a promising future filled with intense competition and thrilling finishes. Fans and analysts alike will watch with interest as these fighters pursue bigger opportunities in their respective divisions.
He wants to run it back 👊@Bautista_MMA knows exactly who he wants next!
[ #UFCVegas113 | @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/vyvNA92Ihd
— UFC (@ufc) February 8, 2026
"I want a title shot! Who is the champion right now? Van?… I WANT TO FIGHT YOU, OKAY!"
Kyoji Horiguchi wants a shot at the flyweight belt!
📺 @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/9Vci7f87dX
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) February 8, 2026
