Mirsad Bektić (born February 16, 1991)[3] is a Bosnian-born American retired professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Mirsad Bektić was born on February 16, 1991, to Bosnian 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 and his siblings fleeing the Bosnian War, a conflict which claimed the lives of his maternal grandparents and several relatives.
[6] He began training in karate at the age of 13 and later boxed for one and a half years[7] before transitioning to mixed martial arts in 2008.
[8] 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.
[8] Bektić made his promotional debut against fellow newcomer Chas Skelly on April 19, 2014, at UFC on Fox 11.
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.
[13] In turn, Bektić pulled out of the bout in the week leading up to the event and was replaced by promotional newcomer Clay Collard.
[15] However, Omer pulled out of the fight with an undisclosed injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Paul Redmond.
[37] Bektić was scheduled to face Luiz Eduardo Garagorri on September 26, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 178.