A bantamweight who was born in Afghanistan will face an opponent who made his name fighting in Japan at UFC 294. Javid Basharat has been matched with Vitor Henry at the Etihad Arena on October 21st.
Basharat and Henry were booked to face off at UFC Vegas 79 next week. The American withdrew from that bout for unspecified reasons and it has been delayed by a month.
Basharat (14-0) was born in Afghanistan but grew up in England and will be fighting in Asia for the first time in his career. He is coming off a decision win over previously undefeated Brazilian Mateus Mendonça at UFC Vegas 67.
Henry (23-6) has nearly twice as many fights on his record as Basharat, even if his record isn’t quite as immaculate. The American is a former Deep bantamweight champion and also challenged unsuccessfully for the Pancrase belt during his time fighting in Japan.
this is so cold from Basharat after Mendonca did it to him at face offs pic.twitter.com/DqithC3y4z
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) January 14, 2023
Title rematch
UFC 294 will be the promotion’s first event in Abu Dhabi this year. The card will be headlined by a rematch with Islam Makhachev putting his lightweight title on the line against Charles Oliveira.
The two men first met at UFC 280 last year. Makhachev submitted Oliveira in the second round to win the lightweight title in Abu Dhabi, at the same venue which will host the rematch.
Makhachev would go on to beat Alex Volkanovski by decision at UFC 284 in Perth to defend the belt. He is the protege of Khabib Nurmagomedov who held the lightweight title himself and retired undefeated.
At UFC 289 last month Oliveira stopped Beneil Dariush in the opening round. The Brazilian holds the promotion’s record for most finishes, most submission and most bonuses.
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Middleweight debut
The card will also feature the middleweight debut of Khamzat Chimaev. Having missed weight by nearly 10lbs at UFC 280 he has moved up a division and will be taking on Paulo Costa.
Also in the middleweight division Nassourdine Imavov has been matched with Ikram Aliskerov. The former had been booked to fight Costa at UFC 291 but that fight was cancelled with both men facing different opponents in October instead.
Khamzat Chimaev taps out Kevin Holland in the first round.#UFC279 pic.twitter.com/9kWjh1Bn5k
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) September 11, 2022
Famous namesake
Mohammad Yahya has signed with the UFC and will debut in Abu Dhabi next month. The reigning UAE Warriors lightweight champion will become the first fighter from the country to compete inside the octagon.
Yahya has been booked to face Trevor Peek at UFC 294. The event is set for the Etihad Arena on October 21st and the Emirati should get good support from the fans in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile Said Nurmagomedov is heading to the city where his namesake finished his career. The Russian bantamweight will be competing at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi on October 21st.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s final two fights both took place in Abu Dhabi. He submitted Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje before walking away from the sport with a perfect professional record.
Nurmagomedov has been matched with Muin Gafurov at UFC 294 . The ONE Championship veteran previously fought in Abu Dhabi at UAE Warriors 15 but was defeated on his UFC debut earlier this year.
UFC 294, Abu Dhabi, October 21st
Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira (For lightweight title)
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paulo Costa (Middleweight)
Nassourdine Imavov vs. Nassourdine Imavov (Middleweight)
Tim Elliott vs. Muhammad Mokaev (Flyweight)
Abu Azaitar vs. Sedriques Dumas (Middleweight)
Jinh Yu Frey vs. Victoria Dudakova (Strawweight)
Mohammad Yahya vs. Trevor Peek (Lightweight)
Anshul Jubli vs. Mike Breeden (Lightweight)
Said Nurmagomedov vs. Muin Gafurov (Bantamweight)
Victor Henry vs. Javid Basharat (Bantamweight)
