Local mixed martial arts fighter climbs back into the cage after long layoff
Justin Basra hasn't had a mixed martial arts fight in five years.
Basra says it's not because he was retired, but because a lot of other things got in the way.
"I had a few injuries, so I kind of stopped training as hard and let those injuries recover," the 34-year-old said.
"Then, when I was getting ready to train again, COVID hit and that kind of slowed everything down again. I got a good opportunity on Dec. 2 here to fight for the belt, so I took it."
Basra is referring to Unified MMA 47, where he'll climb back into the cage at the Genesis Centre.
He'll be facing Maged Hammo of Lethbridge in the main event.
On the line is the Unified Canadian Featherweight belt.
Basra is confident, but also knows he'll be in for a good fight.
"Maged, he's tough and he's gritty. You can't underestimate him. If you give him in inch, he'll take a mile," Basra said.
"That's what he's done in his last few wins. He's in there and it's super tight and if a guy eases off just a little bit, he'll finish him."
Basra is 5-0 as a pro and even though he hasn't fought in five years, he's still been training.
Justin Basra will climb back into the cage at the Genesis Centre.
Kieran Keddle is his striking coach, and he doesn't think the long layoff between fights will affect Basra.
"There might be what we call some ring rust. Of course there will be, but he's been training even through injuries the last five years and of course COVID delayed a few things, but he's still very sharp in there and he's sparring and getting the right training in," Keddle said.
"It might be a little bit of nerves, but I don't think it's going to bother him."
Ali Charkie is Basra's main training partner, and he doesn't think it will affect him either.
Charkie believes Basra's main advantage over Maged will be the style of fighting.
"I'd say we're more like a smothering grappler type of style," Charkie said.
"We'll come in and we'll throw bombs and we don't care to get taken down. We'll get back up to our feet and once we get on top of somebody, it's gong to be hard to get us off. We're like Gorilla Glue and either the bell is going to go and you get saved by the referee or we're going to elbow your head in and choke you out. It goes one way or the other."
This is a big fight for Basra. He says if he wins it's going to open a lot of doors for him.
"Fighting for this belt means a lot. The UFC is coming to Canada early this year and winning the belt puts my name on top of the list for getting the call up to compete in the UFC," he said.
MMA 47 will be held at the Genesis Centre on Dec. 2.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.