Jose Aldo vs Mario Bautista — Fight recap

Mario Bautista defeated Jose Aldo via split decision after three rounds on October 5, 2024, in a striking-heavy affair where both fighters landed significant volume but neither could secure a decisive advantage. Aldo connected on 51 of 117 significant strikes (43%), landing 41 to the head, while Bautista landed 49 of 142 significant strikes (34%), though he controlled 7:15 of fight time compared to Aldo's zero seconds.

Neither fighter attempted takedowns—Bautista went 0 of 10 on shot attempts—leaving the bout entirely in the striking realm, where Aldo's efficiency and head-hunting accuracy appeared to edge Bautista's volume. However, the split decision victory for Bautista suggests the judges valued his pressure and control time over Aldo's cleaner striking.

The result marks a notable setback for the former featherweight champion and raises questions about his competitive level at bantamweight against rising contenders.