The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Afghan mixed martial artist Javid Basharat won his Professional Fighters League debut Saturday, defeating Movsar Ibragimov by unanimous decision in a bantamweight bout.
Basharat, who entered the fight with a 15-2 professional record, won all three judges’ scorecards 29-28 at Benchmark International Arena. The victory improved his record to 16-2.
Ibragimov, who fights out of Belgium, fell to 8-2. He entered the bout after a first-round submission victory over Shane Campbell at PFL Brussels in May.
The fight was part of the preliminary card at PFL Tampa, which was headlined by Cris Cyborg’s women’s featherweight title fight against Ketlen Vieira. The event was held Saturday, Aug. 22, at Benchmark International Arena.
Basharat joined the PFL after leaving the UFC, where he established himself as a bantamweight contender. His departure from the UFC came after he won his most recent fight by unanimous decision, a transition he later described as unexpected and difficult.
Ahead of his PFL debut, Basharat urged fighters to focus on training and making the most of their opportunities as they navigate the uncertainty of professional mixed martial arts.
