Afghan mixed martial artist Javid Basharat began his Professional Fighters League (PFL) career with a victory, defeating Belgium-based Movsar Ibragimov by decision in their bantamweight bout in Tampa, Florida.
The fight took place on Sunday, August 23, 2026, as part of the PFL Tampa event at Benchmark International Arena. Basharat entered the bout with a 15-2 professional record, while Ibragimov had an 8-1 record. The PFL had listed the matchup as part of its preliminary bantamweight card.
Basharat’s victory gives him his 16th professional win against two defeats and provides a strong start to his career in the PFL after his previous run in the UFC. Before joining the PFL, he had built a reputation as an experienced bantamweight and entered the fight having won his most recent UFC bout by unanimous decision.
Ibragimov, who fights out of Belgium, entered the contest with eight wins and one loss. He had previously competed in the PFL and most recently defeated Shane Campbell by first-round rear-naked choke at PFL Brussels in May.
The matchup was contested at 135 pounds (61 kilograms) and was one of the notable preliminary bouts on a card headlined by Cris Cyborg’s women’s featherweight title fight against Ketlen Vieira.
Basharat’s move to the PFL follows his departure from the UFC, which he recently described as a difficult and unexpected transition. Ahead of his PFL debut, he said fighters should remain focused on training and making the most of every opportunity as they navigate the uncertainty of professional MMA careers.
