Bautista remained unfazed when his scheduled opponent withdrew, quickly accepting a bout against former Bellator champion Patchy Mix on short notice. The Arizona-based fighter had been preparing to face Marlon "Chito" Vera before an injury forced a last-minute change.
"I was happy I got the win," Bautista said about his previous fight that sparked fan backlash. "The fans did not like it afterwards, for sure, and they were sending all their hate my way. But honestly, I just didn't let it bother me."
Rather than dwelling on criticism, Bautista refocused on his inner circle and training. "People can say whatever they want, but, at the end of the day, it's just about your family and all your close friends. Those are the ones that really matter," he explained.
The fighter had barely settled back into his training routine after the holidays when news broke about Vera's withdrawal. Interestingly, the UFC wasted no time finding a replacement.
"Chito got hurt and literally that day they were already working on finding a new opponent," Bautista revealed. "I saw on Instagram that Patchy was released from his contract and people were putting two and two together."
Mix enters the matchup with an impressive 20-1 record and significant championship experience from his Bellator tenure. Despite the opponent change, Bautista appeared enthusiastic rather than rattled by the new challenge.
"I was excited that I still got a good name, a well-respected fighter, someone with a good record," Bautista said about facing Mix. "It just wasn't going to be anyone outside the Top 15."
The short-notice replacement maintains the high-stakes nature of the bout. Will Bautista's preparation for Vera translate effectively against Mix's different fighting style? That question will soon be answered inside the octagon.
