The long wait is over for Justin Basra.
Basra boasts an undefeated 5-0 professional record, but his most recent bout came back in September 2018, when he stopped Joaquin Calderon at Rumble in the Cage 59. A nagging injury followed by the global pandemic kept him sidelined, but the time has finally arrived. This Friday evening, Basra steps into the octagon in the main event of Unified MMA 47 in Calgary, Alberta, taking on Maged Hammo (11-6-1) for the Unified MMA featherweight championship.
"It caught me off guard," Basra told MMA Empire. "I put out feelers for a fight and got offered a bout with Noah Ali, but that fell through."
"The promotion was looking for a replacement opponent for Maged and couldn't find one, so they reached out to see if I'd step in for the belt—and I figured, why not?"
While the title shot itself came as a pleasant shock, Basra is thrilled about the opportunity to face Hammo.
According to Basra, he and Hammo shared training time briefly a couple of years back. He respects Hammo's recent stretch of success but firmly believes he possesses the tools to claim the gold.
"He's been around the block, and honestly, I assumed we'd cross paths sooner in my career," Basra noted. "We were on the same card, both coming off big victories, so it seemed like a natural matchup."
"That said, he's a solid guy, an excellent fighter, and we've trained together before. His current run speaks volumes—back-to-back wins over Neal Anderson are no small feat. He's tough, resilient, and a real handful to overcome. But come December 2, I'm convinced I'll be the one leaving with the belt."
If Basra secures a victory and moves to an unblemished 6-0 record while capturing the title, he feels it could open the door to a UFC contract.
With the Las Vegas-based organization set to return to Canadian soil in 2023, he sees himself as an ideal fit to help bolster the promotion's roster of homegrown talent.
"I can't see why I wouldn't get picked up," Basra told reporters. "The UFC is returning to Canada in 2023, and holding the Unified championship carries significant weight."
"I've been a titleholder in every single promotion I've competed in, so I truly believe winning here and earning that call-up is within reach."
Basra intends to deliver a competitive performance regardless of where the fight takes place—whether standing or on the ground. The winless fighter radiates self-belief and has no doubt about his ability to end any opponent.
Still, he insists the method of victory doesn't matter to him. His sole priority is seeing his hand lifted and claiming the new Unified MMA featherweight crown.
"I'm just going to put forth maximum effort," Basra shared.
"If a submission opportunity presents itself, I'll absolutely capitalize on it, but I don't actively hunt for knockouts or submissions. Wrestling has been my life since childhood, and you can't expect just one outcome to materialize. Whatever comes my way, I'll seize it."
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