UFC Fighter Adopts Twin Kittens, Credits Them for Success

A rising UFC fighter says adopting two kittens ranks among his favorite moments of the year, right alongside three first-round knockout victories.

Ateba Gautier moved from Cameroon to Manchester at just 19 years old, leaving behind his mother, six siblings, and the seven or eight cats his family kept back home. His coach gifted him twin kittens named Mya and Lili to ease the transition.

The comfort strategy appears to have worked spectacularly. The 6-foot-4 fighter collected three wins and two performance bonuses in 2025, rising from Dana White's Contender Series to become one of the middleweight division's most exciting prospects.

"I have always liked cats," Gautier told BBC Sport. "Back in Cameroon we had seven or eight cats. I think I wanted cats here in England because I couldn't have a lion or a tiger."

The love for animals runs deeper than pet ownership. Gautier says he feels more comfortable in jungles and forests than in places like Las Vegas with its bright lights and party scene. "In the wild I feel at peace," he explains.

His performances caught the attention of UFC commentator Joe Rogan, who praised Gautier's "terrifying power, super speed and excellent technique" and called him the "future" of the division. But Gautier admits he battles self-doubt despite winning nine of his 10 professional fights since 2021.

"I see myself so low that sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and think, 'I need to train. I'm not that good,'" he says. He draws inspiration from Michael Jackson, Muhammad Ali, and Cristiano Ronaldo, studying how they reached legendary status through years of dedication.

His success has already transformed his family's life back in Cameroon. He helped his mother retire and bought her dream home.

Why This Inspires

Gautier's story challenges the stereotype of what a professional fighter should look like. Here's someone who finds peace with kittens instead of nightclubs, who admits to self-doubt while knocking out opponents, and who measures success by his mother's happiness as much as championship belts.

His honesty about sleepless nights spent worrying about his skills, even while dominating opponents, reminds us that doubt doesn't disqualify us from greatness. Sometimes the people achieving extraordinary things are the ones questioning themselves the hardest.

Gautier faces Andrey Pulyaev on Saturday, with victory potentially earning him his first ranking. He's already set his sights on middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev. "When it's my time, big brother, it's time to sleep," he says with quiet confidence.

The fighter who prefers forests to Vegas and kittens to parties is proving you don't need to fit the mold to break through it.