Javid Basharat is a surging UFC bantamweight with a perfect professional record of 14-0 but that flawless return is holding him back.
Nicknamed the Snow Leopard, the Afghan-Brit was drafted into the UFC back in early 2022 and has since put together three decision victories – but been unsuccessful in his calls for a ranked opponent. Now returning to take on veteran Victor Henry at UFC 294 – Basharat won't be ignored.
Talking to Daily Star Sport on fightweek, the 28-year-old said when asked if ranked fighters have rejected bout against him: "Yeah, 100% and when somebody refuses to fight you, that's it, you can't force somebody to fight.
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"I'm just gonna keep climbing and eventually one of them will pipe up and, and bite."
Basharat, who fights in the same division as fellow undefeated bantamweight brother Farid, is remaining calm as he looks to push his way towards the title, believing that ranked fighters can't see a way to beat him.
Sean O'Malley is currently at the top of the division thanks to his stoppage of Aljamain Sterling, with Merab Dvalishvili, Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Vera all pushing for a title shot of their own.
Who is the biggest threat to current bantamweight king Sean O'Malley? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Basharat finished all 11 of his opponents before joining the UFC, since claiming victories over the experienced Trevin Jones and Tony Gravely as well the the previously undefeated Mateus Mendonca.
Now living and fighting out of Las Vegas but staying well away from the bright lights as a Muslim, Basharat has a new-found focus in training alongside his brother.
He said: "What I like is I'm isolated out there, you know? No, nobody disturbs me. Nobody bothers me."
Adding of their healthy sibling rivalry: "Everything's competitive with Farid, even drilling techniques and let alone sparring. That kind of helps us grow because I can't have him beat me and he doesn't, he doesn't want me beating him."
Another chance for the elder Basharat to call out an opponent of his choosing comes on his first ever UFC numbered card – with more than one name in mind.
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He concluded: "Yeah, it's exciting, that's one of the things I'm looking forward to the most, you know, fighting in front of the crowd and Abu Dhabi is as close as it's gonna get on home turf for me alongside London.
"I'll have a name in mind, the closer I get to the fight, the clearer that name becomes."
As well as Islam Makhachev vs featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski for the lightweight strap, former welterweights Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev go head-to-head at middleweight, with Muhammad Mokaev and Nathaniel Wood also in action.
Watch Basharat vs Henry on the preliminary card of UFC 294 which takes place from 5pm on TNT Sports in the UK, with the main card getting underway at 7pm.
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