Farid Basharat vs Taylor Lapilus Prediction: Undefeated Afgan Won't Lose This Time

On the evening of January 14th, the first UFC 2024 event will occur in the United States, headlined by an Ancalaev-Walker fight. Farid Basharat and Taylor Lapilus will share the octagon in one of the preliminary card bouts. The bout will take place in the lightweight division.

Farid Basharat is a British fighter of Afghan descent who complains that he is not allowed to fight under the flag of Afghanistan. He broke into the charts with this agenda, but he is actually interesting in other ways. Basharat has yet to suffer a defeat in his professional career, including a win in the Contender Series and two victories in the UFC (by decision and submission). Farid managed most of his victories by submission, including a first-round choke of Kleydson Rodriguez in his last bout.

Taylor Lapilus has six straight wins (including one in the UFC), and his last loss was to Denis Lavrentyev in the RCC League. Interestingly, Lapilus is now making a second attempt to break into the UFC - he competed in the world's strongest league in 2015-2016, had four boring fights, and secured three wins.

Of course, it won't be a life or death bout so we are waiting for more tactics, mainly in the parterre. Basharat's skill is incomparably higher, and there is little doubt about his victory - Lapilus is just another step up the ladder. Another question is whether Farid will be able to win early. We think not. Taylor Lapilus feels quite comfortable in the octagon and has excellent defense, while Basharat is by no means a finisher.