“Through the years, in every generation, their methods worked, and it gives me peace of mind.”
Earlier in his career, the conversations leading up to a fight would have included gripes about being held back, not getting the opportunities he wanted, and frustrations about not yet having climbed into the Top 15 in the ultra-competitive 135-pound rankings.
Those were battles Basharat wanted to fight and often brought up himself, making him irritated and annoyed. There was a misguided sense of urgency — a feeling like everything had to happen right now, and, if for some reason it didn’t, that was a failure on his part.
Now, slightly older, but considerably wiser, those things no longer concern him. All he’s worried about is whether he’s continually making improvements and using each opportunity he gets to step into the Octagon and compete as a chance to continue showing that in time, he will stand amongst the best the division has to offer.
“My first year was very active — I was happy about that — and the last two, I have been not so active, but what’s most important to me is have I made improvements in my development and my game? Absolutely I have. That’s money in the bank. As far as going out there and fighting, getting in the rankings, that’s gonna come.
“I’m still undefeated and whoever they’ve put in front of me, I’ve beaten them comfortably, and they’ve put some tough guys in front of me. I’m very happy and that’s all because I’m leveling up all the time in training, and October 4 at UFC 320, you’re going to see a massive jump—the biggest jump in my career as far as improvement goes.”
