Gianni “Kriptonita” Vazquez
Fighting at 125 (flyweight)
Standing at five-foot-seven
Born in Mexico City, Mexico
31-years-old
13-4-1 (4 KO/TKOs, 3 Submissions)
Vazquez has earned his UFC roster spot on the strength of his current win streak. He’s the UNF flyweight champion, but more than anything, it’s his fights that stand out. Nearly all of them have been absolute bangers. This run has marked a real resurgence in his career following a brutal loss to current UFC fighter Edgar Cháirez. In that fight, Vazquez was put to sleep in a triangle choke late in round four. The referee failed to stop it, allowing the fight to continue until Vazquez, still unconscious, had his arm nearly torn off in an armbar before he could even tap.
Since then, Vazquez has rattled off five straight wins. One thing you can’t question is his toughness—and it’s a necessary trait given how he fights. He doesn’t possess fight-altering one-punch power, but he compensates with volume, durability, and a willingness to push a pace that breaks opponents over time. His striking is technically sound yet undeniably messy. He uses feints, works behind the jab, throws combinations, mixes in kicks, and attacks all three levels. While he may lack knockout power, Vazquez stays busy and accumulates damage.
Defensively, however, that same style is what holds him back. He absorbs a lot of punishment, often leaving his chin high and his hands low during combinations and while retreating. His takedown defense is also a concern, and while his grappling is serviceable on the regional scene, it’s unlikely to translate cleanly at the UFC level.
This bout takes place at bantamweight, with Vazquez moving up from flyweight. If he returns to 125 pounds, I’d project him as a top-30 type of fighter—more a reflection of how deep and underrated the division is than any flaw in his game.
He draws Javid Basharat, who hasn’t won a fight in three years and is coming off a knockout loss, a decision loss, and a no-contest. Basharat was once viewed as a legitimate prospect, but that promise hasn’t held up as he’s faced stiffer competition. Vazquez enters with all the momentum, and I believe he can win this fight if he turns it into a grind. A drawn-out, high-volume dog fight favors Vazquez far more than Basharat. For Basharat to succeed, he’ll need to fight smart—manage range, stay disciplined, and mix in takedowns.
After seeing that he missed weight so badly, I don’t see him ready enough to win a fight like this on short notice.