UFC Contender Mario Bautista Reveals Weird Eminem Superstition

#9 ranked bantamweight Mario Bautista reveals the reason why he doesn't walk out to Eminem songs before fights.

UFC Contender Mario Bautista Reveals Weird Eminem Superstition

Mario Bautista talks about Eminem's song ritual that he avoids (via MMA Fighting, Billboard)

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Superstitions have long been a part of combat sports, with fighters often developing personal rituals to help them stay mentally prepared before stepping into the cage. These small habits, whether rooted in belief or routine, can significantly influence an athlete’s mindset. For bantamweight contender Mario Bautista, one particular superstition has followed him since his early days in the sport.

Bautista competes in the bantamweight division of the UFC, standing 5′9″ tall with a 69-inch reach, and fights out of MMA Lab in Arizona. His professional record is listed at 16-3-0, with three victories by knockout and six by submission. His fighting style combines grappling with striking, reflecting a well-rounded skill set that has been refined over years of training.

His most recent appearance was at UFC 321, where Bautista gave Dagestani phenom Umar Nurmagomedov a fight of equal caliber. However, his knockdown and submission attempts did not work on Nurmagomedov, who managed to edge out an unanimous decision win. Bautista recently spoke about his pre-fight superstitions in an interview with popular MMA coach Tim Welch on his YouTube channel.

You can’t play any Eminem songs. It did happen to me, and I didn’t pick the song either. It was one of my amateur fights — ‘Till I Collapse.’ I heard it playing, ended up losing that one. I didn’t know about that superstition till afterward.

Mario Bautista via YouTube

There has long been talk in the combat sports community about the so-called “Eminem curse,” which suggests that fighters who walk out to his songs tend to lose more often than they win. Prominent names such as Darren Till, Cody Garbrandt, and Tyron Woodley are among those who have walked out to Eminem’s music before suffering defeats, further fueling belief in the superstition.

Eminem, one of the most recognizable figures in the global music industry, has long maintained a strong connection with the combat sports world. A dedicated fan of mixed martial arts and boxing, he has attended numerous UFC events and even appeared alongside champions such as Israel Adesanya. The Detroit rapper has also mentioned fighters such as Ronda Rousey and Sean O’Malley in his songs.

In a sport where mental and physical readiness intersect, Mario Bautista’s habits demonstrate how even minor rituals can shape a fighter’s sense of control. Avoiding Eminem’s music may seem like a small gesture, yet it represents the broader importance of mindset and belief in high-stakes performance. It remains to be seen when ‘Super Mario’ will make his return to the Octagon after the UFC 321 setback.

Mario Bautista believes he can beat Umar Nurmagomedov after UFC 321 loss

In his bout against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 321, Mario Bautista entered as an underdog but managed to prove he could stand toe-to-toe with one of the division’s most dominant fighters. He successfully defended some takedown attempts and forced Nurmagomedov into competitive scrambles throughout the match, earning respect for his resilience and composure.

Mario Bautista vs Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 321
Mario Bautista vs Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 321 (via MMA Fighting)

During the fight, Bautista came close to securing a finish in the first round when he caught a toehold submission that visibly pressured Nurmagomedov. He also landed one of the few significant knockdowns in the match, showcasing his striking precision and fight IQ. After the bout, Bautista reflected on his performance and spoke about how the experience gave him confidence against elite competition.

He looked good. He felt strong being in there, I felt like if I made some adjustments, I think I could definitely beat him. Nothing like crazy special. I know I could hang in there with him all those three rounds and defend everything. It’s just a matter of winning the position. If people think he’s one of the best grapplers or the best grappler behind Merab. I definitely felt it gave me like this is something to shoot for. I just need to make some adjustments going into the next one.

However, Nurmagomedov was able to overcome and prove Mario Bautista’s first-round knockout claims wrong as he quickly recovered from any knockdowns and showed endurance. The exchange between both fighters reflected mutual acknowledgment and sportsmanship, with Bautista viewing the fight as a valuable learning experience and Nurmagomedov reinforcing his position among the top bantamweights.

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