MMA: Fighter, Ateba Gautier delivers another first-round knockout at UFC 320.

Fighting at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Gautier needed just one minute and 41 seconds to dismantle his opponent in their middleweight contest. 

The Cameroonian, who has been undefeated since arriving in the promotion, once again displayed the ferocious striking power that has earned him comparisons to his compatriot Francis Ngannou.

The fight itself was fast-paced from the opening bell. Vines, who accepted the fight on short notice after Gautier’s original opponent Ozzy Diaz withdrew, attempted to close the distance and threaten with a takedown. But Gautier quickly punished the attempt, landing a sharp knee and controlling the exchanges in the clinch. 

From there, he unleashed a series of crushing elbows to Vines’ temple, before throwing him to the canvas. Smelling blood, Gautier poured on relentless ground-and-pound, forcing the referee to step in and halt the contest.

The victory not only preserved Gautier’s unbeaten record in the UFC, it also extended his streak of dominant finishes. He has now won three straight fights in the organization, all by stoppage, and has finished eight consecutive bouts overall, with seven of those ending in the first round. 

The performance also earned Gautier a Performance of the Night bonus, adding to his growing reputation as a must-watch fighter in the division. 

Pundits say for the 23-year-old fighter, the win was further proof that he is rapidly becoming one of the most dangerous middleweight prospects on the roster. 

“Power with every strike,” has become his trademark, and UFC 320 was yet another example of his ruthless efficiency inside the octagon.

There has also been widespread speculation about Gautier’s next steps. While a title shot may not come immediately, his consistency and dominance are pushing him quickly toward the division’s top contenders.

The fighter, born on April 10, 2002, in Cameroon, boast of a combination of height, reach, and technique, which makes him a formidable opponent in the cage. 

Standing at 6'4", 193cm with a reach of 81 inches, 206cm, he began his career fighting in local championships in the country’s economic capital, Douala.

“The Assassin”, as he is fondly called, possesses a physical advantage that has played a key role in his fights. 

His most recent weigh-in at 186.0 pounds places him squarely in the middleweight category, where he has established dominance with a calculated, yet relentless fighting style.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3586 of Monday October 06, 2025