Rising UFC star Ateba Gautier is his biggest critic, so he’s unfazed by any outside noise.
The 24-year-old from Cameroon, who is currently training at Manchester Top Team, makes his fifth appearance for Dana White‘s promotion at UFC 328 this weekend.
Gautier faces American Ozzy Diaz at the top of the card at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and is looking to make it five UFC wins in a row since emerging through White’s Contender Series in 2024.
Gautier shuts down critics
Last time out, ‘The Storm’ failed to win a UFC fight inside the distance for the first time, claiming a unanimous decision over Andrey Pulyaev on the undercard of Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett.
Having been widely touted for big things in the UFC, some members of the MMA fraternity were disappointed with Gautier’s performance, while others argued Pulyaev deserved the win.
Gautier has received a great deal of praise at the start of his UFC journey, including from MMA purists like Joe Rogan, while also being nicknamed the middleweight version of Francis Ngannou.
But for Gautier, who studied physics at university before falling in love with the fight game, the criticism means absolutely nothing.
“The biggest pressure I always have is myself,” Gautier told talkSPORT.com ahead of UFC 328.
“Why should I care what people think and what people expect from me? When I started, they were not there. So what should I care?
“Something will affect you only if you let it affect you. Just a word.
“Some people will type in things behind the screen. If they can do the same as me, if they can fight, bro, join us.
“Come and fight with us. So if you don’t fight and then you say these type of things, and then say things behind the screen, say you should have done this, okay, brother, no problem.
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“Come and do it for me then. Or come and fight me and then you will do it. We’ll see.
“Easy to speak, easy to say things in front of the camera, in front of people, but in real life it’s different. It’s different.”
Gautier: I want to be UFC middleweight champion
An emphatic victory for Gautier will put him in good standing to face a top-ranked middleweight opponent next.
His only focus is to be crowned the king at 185lbs and he’s in no rush to get there.
“To be a normal fighter,” Gautier, who is the youngest fighter on the UFC 328 card, responded when asked about his ultimate goal in the sport.
“As a fighter, as someone who is normal, as someone who wants something, I want a legacy naturally.
Ateba Gautier’s UFC record
Unbeaten
? – Ozzy Diaz at UFC 328 in March 2026
W – Andrey Pulyaev via unanimous decision at UFC 324 in January 2026
W – Tre’ston Vines via first-round KO at UFC 320 in October 2025
W – Robert Valentin via first-round KO at UFC 318 in July 2025
W – Jose Medina via first-round KO at UFC Mexico City in March 2025
“I want to accomplish something. I want to be a champion. As a fighter, that’s my goal.
“Not focus on ten divisions, just focus on my division. Be the champion of my division.
“That’s why I say one fight at a time. Get ready for that moment.”
He concluded: “I want to be active, obviously. Getting more experience.
“That’s what I want. I want to have more experience. I don’t want to rush. I want to be smart. I need more experience.
“The last fight was good because I got some experience in the cage.
UFC Schedule
For all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s UFC schedule.
“I need more activity. Just me. Just be more and more in the cage. So I’ll be used to it more now.”
UFC 328 is headlined by the champion of Gautier’s division as Khamzat Chimaev defends the middleweight title against Sean Strickland.
The co-main event sees another championship bout unfold as Joshua Van takes on Tatsure Taira to decide the king of the flyweight division.
