Bassil Hafez will be competing at UFC 302 this weekend. Hafez will be taking on Mickey Gall.
Bassil Hafez Amateur Career
Bassil Hafez started his career starting off as a 5-1 amature. He start off on the right track when he was able to get the stoppage victory in the 3rd round. This was against Chris Martin in his first amature fight. After this victory, he was able to get an arm bar victory against Hakeif Philips. This stoppage came after only 20 seconds of the first round. Bassil was able to keep the good times coming with a first-round stoppage against Steve Wilson. This came before clinching a split-decision victory over Nicholas Willey.
However, Hafez would then suffer his first and only amature defeat when lost to Joseph Lowry by unanimous decision. Bassil Hafez was able to get back to winning ways. This was when he secured a triangle choke victory in the 2nd round against Kris Gratalo. His last fight as an amature was against Paul Sims Jr. Hafez was able to secure the rear naked choke in the 3rd to be able to secure the stoppage before Hafez turned pro.
Starting off in Cage Fury
Kendrick Mendez was Bassil Hafez’s first professional opponent at Cage Fury FC 55. Bassil Hafez was able to secure the victory due to an arm bar in the first round. Hafez was able to follow this victory with a unanimous decision against Robert Plotkin.
However, Hafez would go on to suffer his first defeat in his next fight when he took on De’Alonzio Jackson. This was due to a unanimous decision. Bassil would be able to get back into the win column. This was when he was able to get a rear-naked choke victory in the first round against Chauncey Foxworth. Hafez would then go out and get a split decision draw against Jeremiah Wells.
Bassil Hafez Journey to UFC Outside of Cage Fury
His first professional fight outside of the Cage Fury FC was in Maverick MMA against Jerome Mickle. Bassil Hafez was able to secure the victory due to a kimura in the first round. This victory came after 1 minute and 1 second. Hafez would follow this victory with a split-decision defeat to Richard Williams. Smith Amisial would be his next opponent inside the octagon and he was able to get the victory by unanimous decision before going back into the Cage Fury octagon.
In his first fight since being back in Cage Fury Hafez was able to get a triangle choke in the first round. This victory came against an 8-0 prospect Christien Savoie. However, Bassil Hafez ended up losing in his next appearance. This was against Evan Cutts due to a split decision before going to fight in Fury FC. Hafez would be able to get the victory in his first appearance in Fury FC when he got a split decision victory, Anthony Ivy. Hafez would end up getting his revenge against Evan Cutts however, instead of fighting in Cage Fury this time they would fight in Fury FC. After losing in his first fight due to split decision Hafez was able to get the 3rd round stoppage this time out. This victory punched his ticket to the UFC and got him a UFC contract.
Bassil Hafez UFC Debut
Bassil Hafez made his UFC debut by taking a short-notice fight against rising contender Jack Della Maddalena on 3 days’ notice. Despite not having much time to prepare Bassil Hafez still put up a very impressive performance. While it may have been an impressive performance he was sadly on the wrong end of a split decision defeat.
Bassil Hafez was scheduled to have a fight scheduled against Preston Parson however, Hafez was forced to withdraw which has instead got him an opportunity at UFC 302. Hafez will be looking to defeat Micky Gall to start a run in the UFC.
Titles Won
Bassil Hafez’s first title came after he was able to submit Kris Gratalo in his 6th amature fight. This fight was for the vacant XFECW Middleweight title. His next title would come after his 6th professional win when he defeated Jerome Mickle for the Maverick MMA welterweight title when he was locked in a first-round kimura. When Bassil Hafez returned to Cage Fury for a 2nd time he was able to clinch the Cage Fury Welterweight Title before losing it in his first defence. However, he would avenge this defeat against Evan Cutts when he defeated him for the Fury FC Welterweight title defeating Cutts who was the current champion.
Match Up
Bassil will have to try and work his way into Micky Gall as he is coming into this fight with a 2-inch reach disadvantage. Throughout his time in the UFC Bassil has been able to land 2.13 significant strikes per minute onto his opponent. He was also able to land at an accuracy rate of 26%. While he landed 2.13 he was also absorbing a lot of strikes in his match-up against Jack Della Maddalena. This is due to Bassil absorbing 5.53 significant strikes with a defence of 39%. I feel Bassil will have a lot better time trying to defend against the strikes of Micky Gall landing at a rate of 2.94 strikes per minute with an accuracy rate of 46%. Micky throws fewer strikes than Maddalena so Bassil should be able to defend these a lot easier.
Micky Gall prefers to get the fight onto the ground and Bassil Hafez has got experience in defending the takedown attempts. During his first UFC fight, Hafez was able to defend the takedowns 50% of the time but even if the fight does get to the ground Hafez does have a good ground game. This is due to half of his victories have come due to a submission.
Featured image credit to Embed from Getty Images
