Javid Basharat wants to become first ever UFC champion from Afghanistan

Dana White Contender Series winner Javid Basharat makes his UFC debut this Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Basharat, 26, will become the third MMA fighter from Afghanistan – Siyar Bahadurzada and Nasrat Haqparast being the other two – to ever compete in the UFC when he faces Trevin Jones in a bantamweight three rounder.

The Paktia-born Afghan, who escaped his war-torn homeland with his mother when he was just five years old and fled to England where they were reunited with his father, originally had aspirations of playing professional football but now has set his sights on becoming his country’s first ever UFC champion.

However, he won’t be too annoyed if Haqparast gets there first.

Speaking exclusively to GiveMeSport, Basharat said: “I think I’m the third Afghan ever, right?

“As of now, it’s only me and Nasrat Haqparast, so there’s two of us in the UFC. And it’s just a great honour, it’s a great honour.

“I want to become the first UFC champion from my country, but if Nasrat beats me to it, I’ll be happy for him.

“I hope he beats me to it, as I’m not that type of guy [laughs]. I’m competitive, but I wish well for my brothers, you know, so hopefully he gets it done and hopefully we can hold the title at the same time.”

The DWCS graduate fights out of Xtreme Couture, the same gym as Francis Ngannou, and like the UFC heavyweight champion, he is trained by Dewey Cooper.

Like Ngannou, Basharat is a formidable striker, but he also has all the ingredients to become a success in the UFC.

During his eleven fights, he has finished all of his opponents, and was last seen submitting Oron Kahlon in October.

Asked if he has a preferred method of victory, he replied: “My favourite way of finishing somebody? That’s a good question.