The lone newcomer on Saturday’s UFC Vegas 113 card, Gianni Vazquez was stepping in on short notice to take on Javid Basharat.
Vazquez was replacing Said Nurmagomedov in the fight, and missed weight for what would have been a bantamweight bout, resulting in a 141lb catchweight.
A highly touted prospect who won his first three bouts upon entering the UFC, Basharat (whose brother Farid also fought on Saturday’s card) was looking to shake off back-to-back losses to Aiemann Zahabi and Ricky Simon. Vazquez, an LFA and Fury FC vet, had won his last four bouts under the UNF banner.
Round one opened with Basharat investing heavily in body and leg kicks, a clear and deliberate part of his game plan. The volume and commitment to the kicks appeared to force Vazquez into desperation, leading him to swing wildly. Basharat capitalized, countering with a massive right hand that dropped Vazquez. Though Vazquez absorbed a few follow-up shots, he managed to survive and get back to his feet. Basharat continued to time him well, again countering a leg kick with a sharp right hand. By the end of the round, Basharat had both his own timing and Vazquez’s rhythms dialed in.
In round two, Basharat returned to his kickboxing roots, utilizing light footwork and movement. Vazquez struggled to track him, though he briefly turned the momentum by landing a clubbing right hand that badly hurt Basharat. For reasons unclear, Vazquez failed to maintain pressure, allowing Basharat time to recover. Once he cleared the cobwebs, Basharat secured a single-leg takedown. Vazquez stayed active off his back, attacking the legs and looking for a sweep, but Basharat closed the round strong by advancing to mount and landing several elbows.
The final round saw Vazquez come out aggressively, attacking with body-to-head combinations, knowing he couldn’t afford to let Basharat settle. Basharat remained loose and mobile, continuing to mix in takedowns. Vazquez initially avoided prolonged bottom position and worked back to his feet, but Basharat quickly put him back on the mat. As Vazquez attempted to frame and create space, Basharat’s craftiness in top control took over. Vazquez got to his knees but surrendered his back, and when he turned to face Basharat, the horn sounded with too little time left for anything significant to develop.
Official Result: Javid Basharat def. Gianni Vazquez by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
