Ateba Gautier has blunt advice for fighters who want to ‘look pretty’

Ateba Gautier has made clear his philosophy on the physical toll of professional fighting ahead of his UFC 332 middleweight bout against Roman Kopylov (15-5) on October 3 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

The rising Cameroonian contender believes that anyone concerned with preserving their appearance should reconsider a career in combat sports. Gautier views his battle scars—including marks on his eyebrows—not as blemishes but as badges of honor earned through his commitment to fighting.

"Don't fight if you want to stay clean," Gautier told the UFC. "If you want to look pretty, don't fight. Because there's always someone in front of you who wants to look dirty. And he wants you to look dirty as well. So, I'm not there to look clean. I have scars on my eyebrows. These are gold… I'll never get rid of them. So, why are you fighting? To be a model? No, I didn't choose to be a model. I chose to be a fighter."

Gautier (11-1) has been highly effective in the UFC, finishing four of his five opponents with three of those finishes coming in the opening round. Kopylov (7-5 in the UFC) is coming off a victory over Marco Tulio, rebounding from consecutive losses to Paulo Costa and Gregory Rodrigues. Gautier's combative mindset suggests he will be looking to extend his finishing streak against the Russian veteran.