Javid Basharat to face Aiemann Zahabi in UFC return on March 2 as he bids to crack bantamweight top 15

BANTAMWEIGHT contender Javid Basharat has landed his first outing of what he hopes will be a huge 2024.

Multiple sources have confirmed to SunSport that the undefeated Afghan-born Brit will look to continue his surge up the 135lbs ranks at UFC Fight Night 238 in Las Vegas on March 2.

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Undefeated Javid Basharat will return to action at UFC Fight Night 238 on March 2[/caption]

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The Afghan-born Brit will look to get back to winning ways in his first outing of 2024[/caption]

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The Snow Leopard will face octagon veteran Aiemann Zahabi in Las Vegas[/caption]

Standing between Basharat and a return to the win column is octagon veteran Aiemann Zahabi, the younger brother of well-respected coach Firas.

Basharat, 28, made a rip-roaring start to life in MMA‘s top promotion after being given a contract by Dana White in October 2021.

The Patika pounder dominated veterans Trevin Jones and Tony Gravely before handing Mateus Mendonca his first professional loss last January.

But his perfect run came to an end last October when his clash with veteran Victor Henry ended in a No Contest due to an accidental low blow.

Basharat will be hoping a win over Zahabi – who has won two of his last three via KO – will bag him a spot in the bantamweight rankings, where he believes he should’ve been last year.

The Snow Leopard told SunSport: “Everything has gone very well [so far].

“But the only thing is I feel like I should be ranked [already].

“Because I’m fighting the guys that people don’t really [want to fight]. They’re dangerous fights, they’re heavy hitters of the division.

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Javid Basharat is on a mission to crack the bantamweight top 15[/caption]

“Trevin Jones, had a positive record in the UFC when he beat Timur Valiev who was ranked high at the time and beaten [Raoni] Barcelos everyone was talking crazy about how good Barcelos was.

“Trevin beat that guy and he beat Mario Bautista, who everyone is crazy about right now. He knocked him out, he didn’t even just beat him.

“And Tony Gravely, he was a Division 1 wrestler – so that was a nightmare stylistic match-up for me.

“Everyone thought that he was going to be a tough fight to see where Javid was at.

“And I made light work of him. I fought him with one eye the whole fight. I got cut in the first minute of the fight and that was light work.

“And then I had an undefeated Brazilian from Charles Oliveira‘s team. So that in itself, whether he was good or not, there was no blueprint to beat him.

“I had to find out on fight night how to beat him. I hadn’t seen him lose a round until I fought him. And he came off a 40-second knockout on the Contenders Series.

“These are all tough fights, these are all heavy hitters that I’ve fought. And everybody else is ranked higher than me, which I don’t understand.”