Mario Bautista scored the biggest victory of his career Saturday, winning a close split decision against UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City, but many people disagreed with the judges’ call — including MMA superstar Conor McGregor.
“The Notorious” took on social media Saturday night to call the result a “dirt” and “bullsh*t” decision, and Bautista responded during his UFC 307 post-fight media scrum.
“Conor can kiss my a** and he can fight whenever he’s supposed to,” Bautista said. “Take the fight against [Michael] Chandler. Shut up.”
McGregor complained on social media that Bautista “was shooting in just to hold him against the fence”, and “that’s not good enough”. The Irishman believes the referee Mike Beltran should have separated them because there is “no point prolonging these positions as if they haven’t taken place exactly the same way prior and nothing has taken place but [stalling].”
Bautista explained his strategy, citing Merab Dvalishvili’s performance against Aldo — also in Salt Lake City — as reference.
“The performance is what it is. Had to do what I had to do,” Bautista said. “I got cut in the second round. I got hit with something pretty good. I was able to drive him through the fence. He has good takedown defense, but he cannot get off the cage. That’s not my fault, you know? If that was me, I’m able to circle off the cage. So whatever the crowd thinks, whatever everyone thinks, I mean, that’s on him.
“He wasn’t getting off the fence and I’m not gonna let him off the fence. And I try to take him down, he’s good right there. And like you said, that’s something Marab did, and now look at him, he’s the champ. … I thought I did enough. Striking wise he was getting after a little bit but like I said, he just gave up a lot of time on the cage, so that that’s on him.”
Bautista said he was not worried about the boos because boors os cheers, “it’s energy” for him. Now 15-2 as a professional and riding a long winning streak, Bautista said he’s open to facing Henry Cejudo next.
“We’ll see who comes up,” Bautista said. “I was thinking [Cory] Sandhagen, but he’s kind of coming off a loss I’m a seven in a row now. Someone that’s been calling out [Sean] O’Malley, [and] O’Malley just lost, so if Henry Cejudo wants to fight, we could do that too.”
