John Garza has stepped in on short notice to face Farid Basharat at UFC 329 after Ethyn Ewing withdrew due to injury, with Garza’s team, Ranger MMA, confirming the signing. The change was first reported by Heavy.com’s Marcel Dorff.
Basharat, 15-0 and ranked number 15 in the bantamweight division, had been preparing for Ewing before the late substitution. Garza, a promotional newcomer, will now make his UFC debut on one of the biggest cards of the year during International Fight Week in Las Vegas — a sink-or-swim moment for any fighter entering on short notice against a ranked opponent.
The fight is slotted on the early preliminary card, which airs on Paramount+ and UFC Fight Pass at 5 p.m. ET on July 11. The UFC 329 main card, headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway, begins at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+.
Basharat has positioned himself as one of the more interesting prospects in the bantamweight division with an unbeaten record built entirely on finishes and decisions over credible opposition. A statement win over a short-notice replacement would not carry the same weight as the scheduled Ewing fight, but Garza’s willingness to step in at this level on little preparation says something about his own confidence heading into his promotional debut.
The UFC 329 full card also features Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event, Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista, Gable Steveson’s highly anticipated UFC debut against Elisha Ellison on the preliminary card, and Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov.
