Austin Bashi is calling for a first- or second-round finish when he meets Jose Delgado at UFC Oklahoma City on July 18th. Bashi has described the matchup as the biggest fight of his career to date.
Austin Bashi is publicly guaranteeing a stoppage when he steps into the octagon against Jose Delgado at UFC Oklahoma City on July 18th, predicting the fight will not see a third round.
Bashi, 24, carries a 14-1 record into what he has described as the biggest fight of his career so far. The orthodox fighter out of Warrior Way Martial Arts stands five-foot-six with a 70-inch reach. His numbers tell the story of a wrestling-based competitor: he averages 8.39 takedowns per 15 minutes and posts 1.3 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him one of the more active grapplers on the roster. His striking volume sits at 1.94 significant strikes per minute, reflecting a style built around controlling opponents on the mat rather than trading on the feet.
Delgado, 28, enters the bout at 11-2 and brings a sharply contrasting skill set. Training out of MMA Lab, the switch-stance fighter stands five-foot-eleven with a 74-inch reach and lands 7.48 significant strikes per minute at a 54 percent accuracy rate — numbers that place him among the more efficient and active strikers at his level. He also adds 1.51 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a functional ground game to complement his offense.
Why it matters
- Bashi's elite takedown rate will be tested against Delgado's length and striking accuracy advantage
- A finish for Bashi would validate his self-assessment heading into a pivotal stage of his career
- Delgado's output and switch stance could neutralize Bashi's forward wrestling pressure if he can keep the fight standing
- The result has clear implications for where both fighters land in the divisional pecking order
