Mario Bautista reminded about past loss against Cory Sandhagen after UFC tagged him in submission video

Mario Bautista is preparing for a rematch against Cory Sandhagen at UFC 329, six years after their first encounter ended badly for the bantamweight. When the UFC tagged Bautista in a social media post featuring his submission loss from that debut fight, it served as an unexpected reminder of the armbar defeat he suffered in the opening round.

Bautista, now 33 and ranked in the bantamweight top 10 with a 9-1 record over his last ten fights, views this second meeting as an entirely different proposition. He accepted his original UFC opportunity on short notice back in 2018 as an undefeated prospect, but has since evolved into a seasoned veteran with far more experience in high-stakes matchups. "I was so young and inexperienced," Bautista told MMA Fighting. "There's not really much to take away from it. I think it's going to be completely different this second go round."

The bantamweight remembers the circumstances of that first fight vividly—a Friday night call from his manager while he was about to eat spaghetti, offering him a bout in New York a week later. Since then, he has compiled more UFC fights than pre-UFC bouts and credits his growth in skills, mentality, and preparation for big moments. Bautista also recalls grappling exchanges with Sandhagen, noting his opponent's leverage and hip control.

With a win over Sandhagen, a past title challenger, Bautista could inject himself into the bantamweight title picture at an opportune moment. The division is headed for rematches at the top: reigning champion Petr Yan is expected to face Merab Dvalishvili in a trilogy, while Sean O'Malley is waiting for the winner. Bautista sees an opening to shake up the landscape as a fresh challenger who hasn't faced any of them. "With a win over Sandhagen, a new contender emerges," he said. "I have my chance to shake things up again and the opportunity and I'm hoping to do so this time."