Following a Performance of the Night outing at UFC Newark, Nasrat Haqparast still wants to rebook his date with Canada’s John Makdessi.
Newark, NJ — Nasrat Haqparast earned both a win, and a Performance of the Night bonus at UFC Newark over the weekend. That came thanks to a second round KO of Brazil’s Joaquim Silva. It was a strong showing from the 23-year old Afghan fighter, who was born in and fights out of Germany.
Haqparast improved to 11-2 with the win, and is now on a three-fight win streak in the UFC. While his was loathe to call out names after the fight, he did let one slip to Cageside Press following the bout.
“I don’t call any specific names,” he said. However, “I was supposed to fight John Makdessi, so if we can reschedule this as soon as possible, this unfinished business, sure, send me the contact.”
The Makdessi fight was supposed to take place in March, at UFC Nashville. However, Haqparast was forced out due to injury. It’s clearly one he wants back.
UFC Newark, meanwhile, was a fight he was very prepared for, he told us back stage at the Prudential Center on Saturday. “The game plan was simple. Joaquim Silva is a tough guy, brawler, heavy puncher. We don’t want to make it look bad, the fight, just go in, try to brawl, whoever falls first. We had a really good game plan.”
“The first round was just analyze. Read his movements,” he continued. “My coaches told me, just be patient, you have another level from him, but don’t make a mistake, one mistake can cost you the fight.”
“Second round, I knew what’s coming, his speed, I read everything, I got used to it, then I took the momentum.” That he did, scoring the knockout just over thirty seconds into the round.
Speaking of his coaches, he had some of the best in his corner Saturday. Namely GSP, and Firas Zahabi, of TriStar, where Haqparast has spent time training.
“Georges was so happy,” he said of the Canadian legend, who many consider the greatest fighter of all time. “Georges is a really nervous guy. Before the fight, I was so happy, I was smiling, this and that, Georges is like ‘Nasrat man you’re a psychopath, how are you smiling?'” Haqparast’s response, “Georges, I love it so much, you guys are my idols, my brothers, everybody’s here. The only thing I can do is smile, you know?”
The young lightweight knows he’s lucky to have such a talented team behind him. “In my opinion, this is the greatest corner in MMA history. The greatest fighter. The head coach Firas Zahabi is such a genius. He made GSP, he made Rory MacDonald. So hungry, you know?” And in Nasrat Haqparast, there’s another young, hungry fighter in the gym.
Watch the full post-fight press scrum with Nasrat Haqparast from UFC Newark above!
