LAS VEGAS – Mario Bautista defeated Vinicius Oliveira via submission (rear-naked choke) in the second round of their bantamweight main event at UFC Vegas 113, held Saturday, , at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The victory provides a significant boost for Bautista, who had previously suffered a loss to Umar Nurmagomedov.
The fight unfolded with Bautista initially weathering an early storm from Oliveira, who entered the bout on a six-fight win streak. Oliveira, a former UAE Warriors bantamweight champion, had quickly risen through the UFC ranks since arriving from Dana White’s Contender Series, securing four victories within the promotion. However, Bautista demonstrated resilience and tactical adjustments, ultimately securing the dominant position and finishing the fight at 4:46 of the second round.
In the co-main event, Kyoji Horiguchi earned a unanimous decision victory over Amir Albazi in a flyweight contest. The judges scored the bout 30-27 twice and 29-28. Albazi, a highly-ranked flyweight, was returning to the Octagon after a period hampered by injuries, marking his first fight since November 2024. Horiguchi, the former Bellator and RIZIN champion, continued to build momentum after a third-round submission win in his UFC debut at UFC Qatar in November.
The main card also featured Rizvan Kuniev defeating Jailton Almeida by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28). Michal Oleksiejczuk secured a unanimous decision win against Marc-Andre Barriault (29-28 x2) and Farid Basharat overcame Jean Matsumoto via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29). Dustin Jacoby defeated Julius Walker by TKO (strikes) in the second round, although the stoppage proved controversial.
The preliminary card saw Daniil Donchenko defeat Alex Morono by unanimous decision (30-26 x2, 30-27). Nikolay Veretennikov secured a TKO victory over Niko Price (strikes) in the first round, delivering a brutal finish. Ketlen Souza won a unanimous decision against Bruna Brasil (29-28 x3), while Javid Basharat also earned a unanimous decision win over Gianni Vazquez (29-28 x3). Wang Cong defeated Eduarda Moura by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2).
The event was notable for several weigh-in issues. Four fighters missed weight for their scheduled bouts on the undercard. Wang Cong and Eduarda Moura, scheduled to face each other in a women’s flyweight contest, both failed to make the required weight. Gianni Vazquez and Muin Gafurov also missed weight, resulting in penalties and ineligibility for bonuses. Vazquez was five pounds over the bantamweight limit, while both Cong and Moura were 1.5 pounds over the women’s flyweight limit, and Gafurov was five pounds over the bantamweight limit.
Bautista’s win is particularly significant as he looks to climb the ranks in the bantamweight division. Having previously strung together eight consecutive victories, his recent loss to Nurmagomedov presented a setback. This victory over Oliveira, who was on a considerable winning streak himself, re-establishes Bautista as a serious contender. The fight showcased Bautista’s ability to adapt and capitalize on opportunities, ultimately securing the submission victory.
The event, the first UFC Fight Night of 2026, was streamed exclusively on Paramount+. The Meta Apex served as the venue, marking the first event held at the rebranded facility. The card offered a mix of established names and rising prospects, providing compelling matchups across multiple weight classes. Javid Basharat’s win on the preliminary card is also noteworthy, as he continues to build his profile within the organization.
Horiguchi’s victory over Albazi is a significant step forward for the former champion as he continues his UFC journey. Albazi’s return from injury was closely watched, but Horiguchi proved to be a formidable opponent, securing a clear unanimous decision win. The flyweight division remains competitive, and Horiguchi’s performance positions him for future opportunities.
