Just two fights into his run in the promotion, “The Silent Assassin” is getting some big-time love from the UFC.
If the Ateba Gautier rocket is about to set course for the stratosphere, the UFC appears to be firmly strapped in.
Just two fights into his run in the promotion, “The Silent Assassin” is being called “the scariest fighter in the world” by the UFC in a new highlights compilation ahead of his return Saturday at UFC 320 (pay-per-view, FX/ESPNews/Disney+, ESPN+) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Gautier (8-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), a 23-year-old middleweight from Cameroon, takes on Treston Vines (10-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to close out the prelims. Vines took the fight on just five days’ notice when Ozzy Diaz pulled out.
The UFC featured Gautier’s final preparations in Manchester, England, to travel to the States as part of the UFC 320 “Embedded” first episode – before Diaz pulled out. So his presence on the card has been a highly anticipated one, and for good reason. Since a loss in his second pro fight, Gautier has seven wins and seven knockouts. Six of them have been in the first round, including both his UFC fights after he won his way in a year ago on DWCS. And both his UFC wins have earned bonuses, to boot.
Gautier was a huge favorite of around 10-1 against Diaz. Against Vines, he’s literally one of the biggest UFC favorites of all time at as much as 18-1 at some sites. Will the “scariest fighter in the world” comment be prophetic?
Take a look at Gautier’s highlights in the video above. Then make your pick for his fight below.
