“Mini Ngannou” wants to fight … a lot.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight prospect Ateba Gautier makes his sophomore Octagon appearance against Robert Valentin at UFC 318 this weekend (Sat., July 18, 2025) inside Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
After Gautier’s explosive UFC debut, where he brutally knocked out Jose Medina in Mexico City (watch highlights), he didn’t pause to celebrate, as he returned to the gym to improve and stay ready for any fight opportunity.
“I don’t think of this as work. It’s not a job, and I like to do it; no one forces me to do it,” Gautier told UFC.com. “I love fighting, I have no fears to do it, and I like being in the gym. I’m still learning, so why should I stop? There are no days off. Even on my day off, I’m doing something.”
The 23-year-old knockout artist plans to continue this approach after UFC 318, because he wants to gain more experience.
That is, after he flatlines his opponent.
“After I knock Robert out this Saturday, I just want the UFC to give me more fights,” Gautier said. “I’m still learning, so I need more experience, so just let me fight. I’m young. I have nothing else to do, so keep me busy. I’m gonna knock this guy out, so just give me a fight.”
“Next week there is a card,” Gautier added. “If they want me next week, just give me the fight; I’ll knock this guy out and then knock out my next opponent, very quickly. You order and I deliver…I just want to be busy, getting more experience; more and more and more. I just want to fight.”
With only eight fights under his belt and little to no amateur career, the young Middleweight has the right mindset, especially because, unfortunately, now that he’s in the best fight promotion on the planet, he’s going to be learning on the job.
And if there is one thing everyone knows, the fights are only going to get tougher as he climbs the division.
Gautier (7-1) is riding a six-fight win streak, and all but one of his wins have come by knockout.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 318 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 318: “Holloway vs. Poirier 3” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania