Field Level Media
08 Feb 2026, 10:25 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images)
Bantamweight Mario Bautista passed his first UFC main-event test with flying colors, securing a second-round rear-naked-choke submission against Vinicius Oliveira of Brazil to cap a six-fight UFC Vegas 113 main card on Saturday.Bautista (17-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) earned his first submission win since March 2023, which also came by the same method. Oliveira (23-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC) had not lost since July 2022.'I met the top of that level and it rubbed off on me tonight,' Bautista said following the stoppage win.The co-headliner saw flyweight Kyoji Horiguchi's productive striking make the difference, as the Japanese fighter won a unanimous decision 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 against Iraq's Amir Albazi to increase his flyweight winning streak to five in a row and his overall winning streak to seven.
After his second convincing victory in less than four months' time, Horiguchi (36-5 MMA, 9-1 UFC) made it clear he wants a flyweight title shot after beating Albazi (17-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in his first fight since November of 2024.Russian heavyweight Rizvan Kuniev's clinch work was enough to outlast Jailton Almeida of Brazil and win a unanimous decision 30-27, 30-27, 29-28. Kuniev (13-3-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), who is not currently in the UFC heavyweight rankings, handed Almeida (22-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC), who entered as the No. 6 heavyweight contender, his second straight loss.Middleweights Michal Oleksiejczuk of Poland and Marc-Andre Barriault of Canada brought the META Apex to their feet as both men left all their energy in the Octagon. After two closely contested rounds, Oleksiejczuk (22-9 MMA, 10-7, 1 NC UFC) was able to secure a unanimous decision, winning 29-28 on all three judges' scorecards.
Oleksiejczuk has now won three in a row, while Barriault (17-11 MMA, 6-10, 1 NC UFC) has dropped five of his last six despite nearly finishing Oleksiejczuk in Round 2 by a would-be TKO.Bantamweight Farid Basharat of Afghanistan remained undefeated with a split-decision win against Brazil's Jean Matsumoto, taking the cards 29-28, 28-29, 29-28.
In the decisive third round, Basharat (15-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) traded blows with Matsumoto (17-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), losing in total strikes (111-95) but winning in significant strikes (80-76) and striking accuracy (55.2% to 42.2%).Light heavyweight Dustin Jacoby opened Saturday's main card in impressive fashion with a second-round KO/TKO against former college basketball player Julius Walker to increase his KO/TKO streak to three. Jacoby (22-9-1 MMA, 10-6-1 UFC) called for a fight at the White House in June, while Walker (7-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) failed to secure his second consecutive win.-Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Kenya Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.
More InformationChennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], February 8 (ANI): Ahead of his side's ICC T20 World Cup clash against New Zealand, Afghanistan captain...
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 7 (ANI): India and Seychelles are strengthening ties, with a focus on maritime trade, the blue...
Colombo [Sri Lanka], February 7 (ANI): After suffering a close three-wicket loss to Pakistan in the T20 World Cup opener, Netherlands'...
(Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images) Southern California will chase its first three-game winning streak in its two seasons in the...
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], February 7 (ANI): Veteran West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder became the first bowler from his team...
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], February 7 (ANI): West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd made history during his side's ICC T20 World...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: First Lady Melania Trump capped her first year back in the White House with the global release of a documentary she...
(Photo credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images) Bantamweight Mario Bautista passed his first UFC main-event test with flying colors, securing...
Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], February 8 (ANI): The Shia community held a candle march to pay tribute to the suicide bombing...
Islamabad [Pakistan], February 8 (ANI): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Asad Qaiser stated that the party will proceed with its nationwide...
Guwahati (Assam) [India], February 8 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that the Special Investigation...
New Delhi [India], February 8 (ANI): Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias has said India has become an indispensable partner for Europe,...
