Preview: UFC 259 Prelims

THAT'S IT! @Bautista_MMA finishes it with a knee to snap the unbeaten run of Johns! #UFC247

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— UFC (@ufc) February 9, 2020

Bantamweights

NR | Mario Bautista (8-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. NR | Trevin Jones (12-6, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Bautista (-235), Jones (+195)

Bantamweight is quickly becoming the UFC’s deepest division if it is not there already, and Bautista is yet another under-the-radar talent to watch at 135 pounds. Bautista’s pre-UFC footage showed a well-rounded and aggressive fighter, but he was immediately thrown into the deep end for his UFC debut, as he served as a late-notice opponent for Cory Sandhagen. The surging Sandhagen ran through him in a fun sprint, but Bautista has rebounded well in his two fights since. He won an absolute war with Jin Soo Son, and his last fight against Miles Johns saw him use his aggression much more effectively on his way to a second-round knockout. Bautista faces Guam’s Jones, who authored one of the biggest upsets of 2020—a knockout victory over Timur Valiev that was later overturned due to a failed marijuana test. Jones nearly got finished himself on his way to the win, which jibes with some of his pre-UFC fights. Jones may not often control the balance of his bouts, but he is usually able to stick around and provide some moments of danger. There is a chance that Bautista can get overaggressive and charge right into a finish, but the smarter approach he took in the Johns fight suggests he can pick his spots and eventually get the ball rolling towards a one-sided victory. The pick is Bautista via second-round stoppage.