BOSTON – [autotag]Mario Bautista[/autotag] isn’t interested in revisiting the [autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag] matchup after UFC 292.
After Garbrandt withdrew from their fight due to injury, Da’Mon Blackshear (14-5-1 MMA, 2-1-1 UFC) stepped in to face Bautista (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) on Saturday at TD Garden in Boston seven days after his most recent fight. While losing out on the opportunity to face a former champion wasn;t ideal, it didn’t take long for Bautista to forget about it.
“Pretty bummed out at first, but I’ve got to get over it quick and put him in the rear-view and focus on what was ahead,” Bautista told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during UFC 292 media day. “We were waiting for a new opponent, which I found out, I think it was Monday night before I took off and that was about it. Same process, though. We’re going to go out there and fight.”
Bautista’s focus was to remain on the big pay-per-view card. Blackshear may not be as big of a name as Garbrandt, but he’s riding momentum after a rare twister submission of Jose Johnson this past Saturday at UFC on ESPN 51 as he makes a historic turnaround.
“The only thing I wanted was to remain on the main card if possible, to keep the eyes on me,” Bautista said. “It was going to be a great fight with Cody, so that’s all I was looking for. I just wanted to have some eyes on me and have a great opponent. And Blackshear does have a little bit of shine from his past performance, so it worked out.”
A win over Blackshear would make it five straight for Bautista, who has quietly climbed the bantamweight ladder.
“I think Cody’s in the rear-view,” Bautista. “A win over Blackshear puts me in the top 15, and that’s not where Cody’s at. And I’m looking to move forward.”
[lawrence-related id=2670561,2670237,2669952,2669956]
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.