Photo credit: Jim Range Photography/Shamrock FC
Austin Bashi defeated Erion Zekthi for the Shamrock FC bantamweight title via ground and pound TKO at Shamrock FC 337 on Saturday at the River City Casino in St. Louis.
Bashi improved his professional record to 6-0 with the win, handing Zekthi (6-2) his first career loss by finish. Bashi took Zekthi to the ground in both the first and second rounds and was able to force a ref’s stoppage at the 3:28 mark of the second round.
“My whole game plan was to take him into deep waters,” Bashi told MMASucka. “Every round, I knew he was going to get weaker and weaker, and I knew the finish was going to come.”
Bashi, 20, said it feels good that his 12 years in the sport culiminated in winning a Shamrock FC title. Even though he has gold around his waist, he doesn’t plan to rush his career.
“I’m just trying to more and more fights,” Bashi said. “I’m still young. I’m only 20 years old, you know? A lot of people [in the UFC] are 25, 30. I still have a lot, a lot of fight left in me, so I’m not trying to rush the big things right now. I’ll just defend this [Shamrock FC] belt.”
Bashi said he isn’t sure who he would like to compete against next, and that he’ll take any fight the Shamrock FC matchmakers throw at him.
“I love fighting good people, tough people. I just want to continue to fight the best.”
