Ethyn Ewing was removed from his UFC 329 fight days before July 11, leaving Basharat without an opponent for the card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The change hits a numbered UFC event that sits inside International Fight Week and is headlined by Conor McGregor’s return against Max Holloway in a rematch.
Basharat waits for a new opponent
UFC officials are now trying to find a replacement to face Basharat. That search has to happen fast, because the card is only days away and the spot was opened by an undisclosed injury to Ewing.
Basharat enters the scramble with a 15-0 pro mark and a 6-0 start in the UFC. He last fought in February, when he beat Jean Matsumoto by split decision at UFC Vegas 113.
Ewing's recent rise
Ewing is 2-0 inside the octagon, and his two wins explain why this removal changes the card more than a routine reshuffle. He opened with a short-notice upset of Malcolm Wellmaker in his UFC debut at UFC 322 last November.
In April, he added a second finish when he stopped Rafael Estevam with a liver kick at UFC Vegas 115. That run made him one of the cleaner additions to the bantamweight side of the lineup before the injury pulled him out.
For now, the card moves forward with one hole to fill and one side of the matchup still waiting for a name. The replacement decision will decide whether Basharat stays on UFC 329 as planned or gets paired with a new opponent in the final stretch before July 11.
