Overview

• No. 8 Mario Bautista meets No. 2 Umar Nurmagomedov at Etihad Arena on Oct. 25, with the bantamweight bout set for UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi.
• Bautista says Khabib is an “outlier” and argues the Nurmagomedovs are not invincible, touting a pressure-heavy plan that blends grappling and striking.
• He cites preparations at MMA Lab with partners such as Bryce Meredith, Ezra Elliot and Marcus McGee, and says he would have preferred a five-round fight.
• Nurmagomedov seeks to rebound from his first professional loss, a unanimous decision to champion Merab Dvalishvili in January at UFC 311.
• Accounts of Bautista’s win streak vary by outlet — from eight to 12 — with MMA Junkie noting he is targeting a ninth straight, and Dvalishvili has said he would welcome Bautista as a future opponent if he wins.