Mirsad Bektić | |
---|---|
Born |
Srebrenica, SFR Yugoslavia (today Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
February 16, 1991
Residence | Lincoln, Nebraska, United States |
Nationality | Bosnian |
Ethnicity | Bosniak |
Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) |
Division | Featherweight |
Reach | 70.0 in (178 cm) |
Stance | Orthodox |
Fighting out of | Coconut Creek, Florida, United States |
Team | Relentless MMA American Top Team |
Years active | 2011–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 11 |
Wins | 11 |
By knockout | 5 |
By submission | 3 |
By decision | 3 |
Losses | 0 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Mirsad Bektić (born February 16, 1991) is a Bosnian-American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of December 5, 2016, he is #12 in the official UFC featherweight rankings.
Mirsad Bektić was born in February 16, 1991 to Bosniak-Sunni Muslim parents in the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina) amid the breakup of Yugoslavia. At the age of three, he relocated to Italy with his mother Suada Bektić and his siblings fleeing the Bosnian War, a conflict which claimed the lives of his maternal grandparents and several relatives. The family moved again for a five-year stay in Germany. Bektić moved to the United States at age nine, where his family settled in Lincoln, Nebraska. He has two older brothers and a younger sister. Bektić went to Irving Middle School, and graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School. He began training in karate after moving to the United States before transitioning to mixed martial arts in 2008.
Bektić made his professional debut in 2011, competing primarily in regional promotions across the Central United States where he compiled an undefeated record of 7–0 before signing with the UFC in early 2014. Prior to being signed by the UFC, Bektić was touted by notable publication BloodyElbow.com who listed Bektić at #1 in its "MMA's Top 25 Prospects" list in 2014.
Bektić made his promotional debut against fellow newcomer Chas Skelly on April 19, 2014 at UFC on Fox 11. Bektić won the back and forth fight via majority decision. The fight was nearly stopped in the second round as Skelly landed a pair of illegal knees as Bektić was grounded against the cage, prompting the referee to deduct a point and allow him five minutes to recover. Bektić clearly was hurt and wobbled as he returned to his feet but was able to continue after a brief break.