UFC 259: Trevin Jones gets another spectacular TKO over Mario Bautista after quitting marijuana

‘5 Star’ secures second-round finish in opening prelim bout at Apex in Las Vegas

Jones says debut win being overturned to a no contest after Usada violation for marijuana was ‘frustrating’ but ‘motivated me more’

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Trevin Jones punches Mario Bautista in their bantamweight fight during UFC 259. Photos: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Published: 7:47am, 7 Mar 2021Updated: 12:08pm, 7 Mar 2021

Guam’s Trevin Jones got it done in a big way on the strength of a full training camp, securing a second-round TKO of Mario Bautista in their opening bantamweight prelim fight at UFC 259 on Saturday night.

The 30-year-old “5 Star” had seen his dream promotional debut – a fairy-tale finish as a wild betting underdog against Timur Valiev in August, taken on 36 hours’ notice – go up in smoke after a Usada violation for marijuana last October. The win was overturned to a no contest, but he got to keep his US$50,000 performance bonus.

“It was very frustrating. It just motivated me more,” Jones said after he fight. “I had to treat this fight like it was my debut all over again. I wasn’t losing this fight. Everything was on just on point for this fight and I was here to stay.”

He added that he wasn’t going to “cry about” that disappointment, but Jones (13-6) was crying tears of joy during his second walk to the Octagon at the Apex facility in Las Vegas.

The underdog again here, Jones was probably down a round going into the second against the 25-year-old American Bautista (8-2). But, just like his first UFC fight, he came from behind in spectacular fashion, and it didn’t take him long after getting off the stool.

Feinting with his left hand to get Bautista’s attention, Jones threw a right uppercut. but wrapped it around into a clean hook that landed right on the button.