Bantamweight prospect Ethyn Ewing has withdrawn from UFC 329 due to an undisclosed injury, the UFC confirmed Monday. Ewing was slated to meet unbeaten Farid Basharat on the July 11 card in Las Vegas, the International Fight Week event headlined by Conor McGregor’s comeback fight against Max Holloway 2.

What Happened at UFC 329?

The card has now lost two fights in less than a week, and the event is under two weeks away.

Ewing’s pullout is the second fight cancellation to hit UFC 329 in consecutive days. Earlier last week, flyweight Ode Osbourne was removed from the card due to injury. The UFC moved quickly in that case, bringing in Alessandro Costa on short notice to face Cody Durden and preserve that slot. The Ewing situation is not yet resolved. Per reporter Damon Martin, the UFC is actively searching for a replacement opponent for Basharat but no deal had been finalized as of Monday.

Ewing, 28, had been building momentum fast since entering the promotion. He made his UFC debut on short notice at UFC 322 in November 2025, pulling off an upset win over previously unbeaten Malcolm Wellmaker. He backed it up with a body shot knockout of Rafael Estevam at UFC Vegas 115 in April 2026. The California native owns a 10-2 professional record with eight wins coming by way of knockout, and his matchup with Basharat was viewed by most observers as the most competitive fight on the preliminary card.

The nature of the injury has not been disclosed by Ewing or the UFC. With 12 days remaining, a competitive short-notice replacement is increasingly difficult to assemble.

What Does This Mean for the Bantamweight Division?

Farid Basharat remains undefeated, but his momentum stalls through no fault of his own.

Basharat, who was born in Afghanistan and arrived in England as a refugee before establishing himself as one of the more intriguing prospects in the 135-pound division, carries a flawless 15-0 record with six wins inside the octagon. He currently sits at No. 15 in the official UFC bantamweight rankings. His skill set is built around pressure and a varied submission game: six of his 15 professional wins came by submission, one by knockout, and eight by decision. The Ewing matchup was a natural stepping stone, a test against a fellow finisher with real offensive credentials. That proving ground is now gone, at least temporarily.

At bantamweight, Petr Yan holds the title after defeating Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323 in December 2025. The division is layered enough that Basharat’s path to contention runs through a tight group of ranked names. A fight with a mid-ranked opponent on short notice would still advance his case, but cancellations at this stage rarely accelerate anything. If a replacement cannot be found, Basharat may be held for a better-built matchup on a future card.

The broader context worth noting: UFC 329 was already the most anticipated card of International Fight Week, anchored by McGregor’s first appearance since his 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier. Losing two fights from the undercard in consecutive weeks puts the promotion in a reactive position before the event even begins. The parallels to UFC 303, which absorbed a cascade of withdrawals in the days before fight week, are difficult to ignore.

What’s Next for Farid Basharat?

The UFC has confirmed it is searching for a replacement, but the clock is short.

Available bantamweights who can realistically get to fight weight within 12 days represent a narrow pool. If a viable opponent emerges in the next 24 to 48 hours, Basharat stays on the card in Las Vegas. If not, the UFC will likely position him on a Fight Night event in August or September, where preparation time is more manageable and a properly built matchup can be put together.

For Ewing, the focus shifts to recovery. His timeline is unknown, and the undisclosed injury designation suggests the UFC is not ready to put a return date on the calendar. Given his age, his two-fight winning streak inside the octagon, and the genuine interest surrounding him in the bantamweight division, he should land a competitive booking when he returns. The question is when.

UFC 329 Fight Card (Updated)

With Ewing out and a replacement still being sought for Basharat, here is the current state of the card heading into International Fight Week.

Main Card

Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 — Welterweight
Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoît Saint Denis — Lightweight
Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista — Bantamweight
Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh — Flyweight
Terrance McKinney vs. King Green — Lightweight

Preliminary Card

Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov — Light Heavyweight
Gable Steveson vs. Elisha Ellison — Heavyweight
Cody Garbrandt vs. Adrian Yanez — Bantamweight
Luke Riley vs. Kai Kamaka III — Featherweight

Early Prelims

Tracy Cortez vs. Cong Wang — Flyweight
Cesar Almeida vs. Damian Pinas — Middleweight
Farid Basharat vs. TBD — Bantamweight (Ewing withdrew; replacement being sought)
Ryan Gandra vs. Zach Reese — Middleweight
Alessandro Costa vs. Cody Durden — Flyweight (Costa replaced injured Ode Osbourne)

If you have thoughts on who should step up to face Basharat on short notice, drop them in the comments below. For UFC 329 picks and premium fight analysis heading into McGregor vs. Holloway 2, visit BetMMA.tips/DelinquentMMA.