Bantamweights
Farid Basharat (11-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. Taylor Lapilus (19-3, 4-1 UFC)Once again, the bantamweight division comes through with yet another excellent fight. Basharat might not yet have the profile of his older brother, but he looks poised to have the same level of success. He looks to be the less athletic of the two but might be the more thoughtful and technically sound while fighting behind a well-rounded game. Basharat has flashed a movement-heavy striking game at times, but thus far in his UFC career, he has mostly gotten things done through his wrestling. A decision win over Da'Mon Blackshear early in 2023 continues to age well, and he ran through Kleydson Rodrigues in impressive fashion for a first-round submission in September. Up next is a decent step up in competition against Taylor Lapilus, another under-the-radar fighter who is looking to continue a successful UFC comeback.
Lapilus was initially let go by the UFC in 2016, which was a bit of a surprise. After the top French prospect won three of his four fights under the promotional banner, the sense was that his contractual situation had slipped through the cracks as the UFC’s sale to Endeavor was going through. At any rate, Lapilus went back to thriving on the regional scene and eventually earned his way back to the promotion, though his return took a bit longer than anticipated. Lapilus was slated to be part of the UFC’s 2022 debut in Paris until he broke his hand, which delayed his comeback until the UFC returned to the city in September. “Double Impact” is a long striker who can certainly cause some damage here, but while he has done well to become a competent wrestler over the years, that is still a clear liability in a matchup like this. It might take a while for Basharat to get things going, but he figures to succeed in eventually turning this into a grind. The pick is Basharat via decision.
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