Lead
Mario Bautista halted Vinicius Oliveira’s rapid rise in the bantamweight ranks with a second-round submission in the UFC Vegas 113 headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Bautista secured a rear-naked choke at 4:46 of Round 2 to stop Oliveira and snap the Brazilian’s six-fight win streak. The victory advanced Bautista’s recent run of form — he has won nine of his last 10 appearances in the promotion. The finish came after a sequence of positional control and transitions that earned Bautista the stoppage.
Key Takeaways
- Mario Bautista (17-3, 11-3 UFC) submitted Vinicius Oliveira (23-4, 4-1 UFC) via rear-naked choke at 4:46 of Round 2 in the UFC Vegas 113 main event.
- Oliveira’s six-fight professional winning streak ended; he had been 4-1 since joining the UFC.
- Bautista has won nine of his last 10 UFC appearances, rebounding from a loss to Umar Nurmagomedov in October.
- Kyoji Horiguchi (36-5, 1 NC, 9-1 UFC) outpointed Amir Albazi by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) in the co-main, improving to 2-0 since his return.
- Rizvan Kuniev took a unanimous decision over Jailton Almeida (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) thanks to clinch control and consistent inside work.
- Michal Oleksiejczuk edged Marc-Andre Barriault by 29-28 on all cards after a late surge in Round 3.
- Farid Basharat remained unbeaten (15-0, 6-0 UFC) with a split-decision win over Jean Matsumoto; Dustin Jacoby scored a TKO at 1:42 of Round 2 over Julius Walker.
Background
The headliner featured two grappling-capable bantamweights at different stages of their UFC journeys: Bautista, an established MMA Lab product, and Oliveira, a Brazilian prospect riding a six-fight run into the Octagon. Bautista entered the night seeking a rebound after dropping a decision to Umar Nurmagomedov in October; Oliveira was aiming to continue his rapid ascent in the division. The matchup was billed as a test of Bautista’s positional wrestling and Oliveira’s forward pressure and finishing instincts.
UFC Vegas 113 at the Apex continued the promotion’s steady output of events that mix veteran names with rising talents. For fighters like Horiguchi and Bautista, performances at this level are often evaluated with an eye toward rankings movement and potential title positioning. For prospects such as Oliveira, a win over an established opponent would have accelerated his climb; the opposite result resets that trajectory and raises questions about next steps.
Main Event
The bout began at a measured pace as both men felt each other out on the feet and in scramble situations. Bautista established control early by using grappling exchanges to keep Oliveira on the mat in Round 1, forcing the Brazilian to fight from disadvantageous positions. Oliveira appeared content to remain on the canvas at times, and the Arizona-based Bautista repeatedly looked the sharper grappler through the opening stanza.
Early in Round 2 Oliveira attempted a takedown that Bautista turned to his advantage; Bautista swept into top position, secured a crucifix and rained elbows while isolating his opponent’s arms. That sequence transitioned into an attempted kimura and then a swift switch to back control. Bautista locked in a rear-naked choke and Oliveira tapped at 4:46, ending the contest.
The finish was the culmination of Bautista’s control and transitional grappling — he converted a defensive moment into an immediate offensive sequence. Oliveira’s gas tank appeared to be an issue in Round 2, and Bautista’s pressure and technical awareness allowed him to capitalize. The stoppage was clean and definitive, underscoring Bautista’s ability to impose his gameplan against a rising prospect.
Analysis & Implications
Bautista’s submission showcases two durable trends in his recent work: elite positional awareness and finishing instincts in scramble situations. Turning an opponent’s takedown into top control, advancing through a crucifix, and then finding the back demonstrates a level of grappling fluidity that will keep him relevant in a stacked bantamweight division. That toolkit makes him a difficult stylistic matchup for aggressive but less-seasoned wrestlers or strikers.
For Oliveira, the loss halts momentum at a critical juncture. A six-fight run invited talk of accelerated matchmaking, but the defeat exposes areas for growth: conditioning for later rounds, escape mechanics from compromised positions, and defensive awareness during scrambles. How Oliveira and his camp respond — whether by addressing cardio and positional defense or by seeking a tune-up against a lower-ranked opponent — will determine the speed of his rebound.
Horiguchi’s unanimous decision over Albazi carries implications for the flyweight picture as well. At 36-5 (1 NC) and 2-0 since his recent return, Horiguchi’s accuracy, timing and in-and-out movement kept him ahead on the scorecards and reignited debate about his place among title contenders. While a title shot is not automatic, another high-profile win over a Top 10 opponent could push him back into the discussion.
Comparison & Data
| Fighter | Record (Pro) | UFC Record | Result (Vegas 113) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Bautista | 17-3 | 11-3 | Submission (R2, 4:46) |
| Vinicius Oliveira | 23-4 | 4-1 | Loss — tap (R2) |
| Kyoji Horiguchi | 36-5, 1 NC | 9-1 | Decision (UD) |
| Amir Albazi | — | — | Decision (UD) |
The table highlights records and outcomes for the card’s top fights; Bautista’s finish came relatively late in Round 2 after extended positional exchanges. Comparing UFC records shows Bautista’s greater volume of promotional bouts and experience, a factor that often affects pacing and in-cage decision-making. Official fight statistics (takedown attempts, control time, strikes landed) further underline Bautista’s edge in grappling control on the night.
Reactions & Quotes
Broadcasters and pundits framed Bautista’s victory as a demonstration of elite scramble management and submission awareness. The following short reactions capture the immediate appraisal from the broadcast and analyst community.
“Bautista turned defense into offense and finished with textbook back control.”
Broadcast commentary
The broadcast’s commentary emphasized the speed of Bautista’s transitions and the effectiveness of his elbow-and-isolation sequence that led to the choke. Analysts noted that the combination of crucifix elbows and the quick switch to a kimura attempt before the back take shows advanced positional chaining.
“This win keeps Bautista in the win column after a tough loss, and it re-establishes him among the division’s dependable grapplers.”
Independent fight analyst
Independent analysts placed the result in context of Bautista’s career arc — a rebound victory that shores up his standing in the 135-pound class. They stressed that consistent wins at this level typically translate into higher-ranked matchups and potential ranking movement.
“Fans on social platforms lauded the craft of the sequence and debated Oliveira’s gas tank late in Round 2.”
Social reaction summary
Public reaction on social media reacted to both the technical finish and Oliveira’s apparent fatigue, with discussion focusing on what the loss means for the Brazilian prospect’s next steps.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Bautista will be immediately considered for a top-10 opponent or title-adjacent matchup has not been officially announced and remains speculative.
- Claims that Horiguchi will receive a title shot next are premature without confirmation from UFC matchmaking; his positioning in rankings will depend on further matchups and timing.
- Any reported injuries to fighters following their bouts have not been confirmed by official medical suspensions or statements at the time of reporting.
Bottom Line
Mario Bautista’s second-round rear-naked choke at UFC Vegas 113 was a statement win that reinforced his status as a dangerous grappler in the bantamweight division. The finish halted Vinicius Oliveira’s rising run and highlighted specific developmental areas for the Brazilian prospect — chiefly conditioning in the later rounds and escape mechanics from compromised positions. For Bautista, the victory restores momentum and positions him for meaningful matchups as the division’s landscape continues to shift.
Elsewhere on the card, Kyoji Horiguchi’s unanimous decision over Amir Albazi and the card’s mixture of decision-heavy and finish outcomes underscored the depth and stylistic variety present in the UFC’s lower- and middle-weight classes. The event will likely produce modest ranking adjustments, and fans should watch how matchmakers capitalize on the evening’s decisive performances.
Sources
- Sherdog — Media coverage and event report
- UFCStats.com — Official fight statistics and judges’ scorecards (official)