UFC 324: Ateba Gautier Wins First Decision
At UFC 324, rising contender Ateba Gautier scored a milestone victory over Andrey Pulayev, going the distance for the first time in his UFC career. Fighters and fans are calling it a pivotal learning experience, showcasing a new level of maturity and strategic depth for Gautier.
Prior to this bout, Ateba Gautier had established himself as a pure finisher inside the octagon. All three of his previous UFC victories came via first-round stoppage, earning him the nickname "The Silent Assassin" and two Performance of the Night bonuses. His professional record stood at 9-1, with eight of those wins coming by way of knockout. The Cameroonian-born middleweight, who trains out of Manchester Top Team, earned his UFC contract with a second-round TKO on Dana White's Contender Series in September 2024. At just 22 years old, he became the youngest African fighter to sign with the UFC upon his debut in March 2025. His opponent, Andrey Pulayev, entered the cage with a professional record of 10-3. A product of the Storm Shlemenko Fight Team, the 28-year-old Russian had a 1-1 record in the UFC before facing Gautier. Pulayev's background includes a black belt in Kudo and a silver medal at the Russian Cup in pankration. The unanimous decision victory (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) marked the first time Gautier had ever been to the judges' scorecards in his four-fight UFC career. The 15-minute battle demonstrated a new dimension to his skillset, proving he has the cardio and durability to win a grueling, strategic fight, not just a quick finish.
