Jose Aldo vs. Mario Bautista: Preview, Where to Watch and Betting Odds

Featherweight giant and UFC legend Jose Aldo continues his return from retirement with a bantamweight clash against streaking American Mario Bautista in the main card of UFC 307. The former featherweight king who now competes at 135 pounds returned to the Octagon after two years and earned a win last May in his fortieth professional fight. Mario Bautista has been streaking up the bantamweight ladder but faces his greatest challenge against the former bantamweight title challenger. Bautista is a slight favorite ahead of the clash at the Delta Center in Utah.

MMA: UFC Bantamweight

Where to Watch: PPV

Venue: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

Date: 06.10.2024 06:00

The 38-year-old was the last WEC featherweight champion and was promoted to UFC featherweight king with the merger of the two promotions. Jose Aldo defended his title seven times before losing it to Conor Mcgregor in 2015. Since 2019, the Brazilian has competed at bantamweight, failing to wrest the 135-pound title from Petr Yan in July 2020 at UFC 251. Following the birth of his child in 2022, “Junior” retired from the sport, however, the UFC did not cancel his contract. A black belt in Muay Thai, Jose Aldo tried his hands at pro boxing before returning to the UFC earlier this year against Jonathan Martinez. Aldo, a 2023 UFC Hall of Famer, earned a unanimous decision for his fourth win in five bantamweight fights.

Honestly, I was kind of surprised, I know I was pushing for the Rob Font fight. It got to the point when I was like I’ll take anyone, even if they are outside the top-15. I had no clue what the UFC was thinking. Once they gave me that name, I got pretty excited and happy. It was worth the wait… I never envisioned it, but growing up I did picture fighting these top guys.

Mario Bautista

• Age: 38
• Height: 5’7”
• Reach: 70”
• Weight: 135lbs (61kg)
• Record: 32-8

A member of the MMA Lab, American Mario Bautista is ranked at number eleven in the UFC bantamweight standings and is plotting to get into the top ten with a win over Jose Aldo. The 31-year-old has won six consecutive fights in the promotion, logging three decisions and three submissions in that run. 8-2 in the UFC, Mario Bautista lost his promotional debut to Corey Sandhagen in early 2019, which was his first professional loss. A black belt in BJJ, Bautista secured a unanimous decision over Ricky Simon last time.

Just working it into my routine, my shadow boxing, my sparring, mentally and visually just getting ready for it. We are on top of it… I have to keep a high pace. I know I have the gas tank and that will be a big thing in this fight. I’m going to make him fight.

Mario Bautista

• Age: 31
• Height: 5’9’’
• Reach: 72”
• Weight: 135lbs (61kg)
• Record: 14-2

Jose Aldo is a 2.10 underdog on Betway with Mario Bautista priced at 1.73 on the sportsbook. Jose Aldo to win by decision is 2.80 on Bet365 which lists a decision for Mario Bautista at 2.40 odds. 1XBET lists under 1.5 at 4.5 odds and under 2.5 at 3.3. Read more here.