Farid Basharat, a dominant and undefeated bantamweight competitor with a pristine 16-0 professional mixed martial arts record and seven victories under the UFC banner, has officially been released by the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization.
Following initial reports of his departure that surfaced earlier in the month, Basharat took to social media to release a formal statement confirming the news. In his public address, the bantamweight standout didn’t hold back, expressing his belief that the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a corporate entity and sporting organization is no longer what it used to be.
The news is confirmed, I am no longer with the UFC, Basharat wrote on social media, joining his brother Javid—who was also previously allowed to walk away from the company after compiling a 4-2 record with one no-contest. I’ve had an incredibly successful time in the organisation. I’m proud and happy with what I’ve accomplished inside the Octagon. I leave with a stainless record. Holding the longest active win streak in my weight division and the fourth longest in the entire UFC. I feel I’m the best bantamweight in the world. I always turned up and fought regardless of injuries and weight deficits. And I always asked for the toughest opponent to get me closer to the title.
Basharat made it clear that his exit stems from organizational dynamics rather than athletic shortcomings. But my departure clearly has nothing to do with my fighting capabilities. Unfortunately the organisation just isn’t what it used to be, he continued. They’re heading in a different direction from what we all grew up loving. I want to clarify that since my last fight I was never offered a contract or an opponent, I waited but it never came. I’ve certainly never declined a fight during my whole tenure.
While Basharat took the time to express his gratitude toward the UFC administrative staff and the global fanbase for their unwavering support throughout his tenure, his parting words serve as a heavy indictment of the current landscape of the promotion in 2026. Over the past few years, the organization has faced substantial criticism from analysts, fighters, and hardcore fans alike for letting elite, highly skilled talent walk out the door, often favoring cheaper, lesser-known prospects sourced directly through the Dana White’s Contender Series.
Basharat’s Octagon run featured high-level grappling, suffocating pressure, and technical brilliance, though it notable included only a single stoppage victory. This style-dependent metric likely played a role in the promotion’s calculus, with company matchmakers potentially concluding that his tactical approach lacked the flashiness required to secure a long-term future in the division. However, this philosophy cuts directly against the promotional tagline that the UFC is the place where the best fight the best, creating a growing disconnect between athletic merit and promotional retention.
This is certainly not the first instance of a talented or even undefeated fighter being shown the door or allowed to test free agency under controversial circumstances. Historically, the promotion famously released Jon Fitch, a top-tier welterweight contender, immediately following a single loss due to perceived stylistic stagnation. More recently, undefeated flyweight prospect Muhammad Mokaev was not offered a new contract after fighting out the final bout of his deal, though that separation involved a mixture of promotional friction and backstage behavioral issues.
For Basharat, the writing was effectively on the wall when his contract was left unrenewed heading into what would be his final promotional appearance. That bout took place at UFC 329, where he secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over John Garza, extending his pristine professional record further before entering a period of contract limbo.
Having officially severed ties with the industry leader, Basharat now finds himself in a position of complete career freedom. He has multiple lucrative and competitive avenues available to him, including the possibility of joining his brother Javid in the Professional Fighters League, or exploring global opportunities with organizations such as Scott Coker’s recently unveiled Ki MMA 32-man global featherweight tournament ecosystem, Oktagon MMA, and other rising major promotions looking to secure top-tier undefeated talent.
