Farid Basharat left the UFC as a free agent after the promotion declined to offer him a new contract, despite a professional record that remains spotless. The British bantamweight, born in Afghanistan, has since criticized the promotion’s approach to fighters who win by decision rather than by finish.
A Perfect Record That Wasn’t Enough
Basharat’s contract ran out after his unanimous decision win over John Garza at UFC 329 on July 11, 2026. The promotion booked him no further fights and offered no extension, leaving him a free agent. Born on August 2, 1997, in Afghanistan’s Paktia province and now a British national, Basharat carries a 16-0 professional record, including a 7-0 mark inside the UFC. He held the No. 9 spot in the bantamweight rankings at the time of his last fight, a position he now risks losing through inactivity. The UFC has given no official explanation for the decision, and the promotion’s 135-pound (61.2 kg) bantamweight division remains without him for the first time since his 2022 arrival.
Six Decisions and a Submission Win Over Taylor Lapilus
Six of Basharat’s seven UFC wins went to the judges’ scorecards. His only finish came by a first-round arm-triangle choke over Kleydson Rodrigues at UFC Fight Night 226. He also won decisions over Da’Mon Blackshear at UFC 285, Victor Hugo at UFC 308 during a one-off move up to featherweight, Chris Gutierrez at UFC 320, and Jean Matsumoto by split decision at UFC Fight Night 266.
His list of beaten opponents includes Taylor Lapilus, a French fighter he outpointed on January 13, 2024, at UFC Vegas 84. Lapilus has since moved to the PFL. Basharat’s decision-heavy resume, built on consistency rather than finishes, is now cited by multiple observers as a likely factor behind the UFC’s choice not to keep him. He first reached the roster through Dana White’s Contender Series, and his seven-fight unbeaten run inside the Octagon had stood as one of the longest active streaks in the bantamweight division before his release.
Basharat Says the UFC Is Building a Fan Base That Doesn’t Value Good Fighting
Basharat first confirmed his departure in an October 15 social media post, calling himself the best bantamweight in the world and saying the UFC was moving away from what fans had always loved about the sport. He said he had hoped to face tougher opponents to move closer to a title shot but received no offers after beating Garza.
In more recent comments, he went further, saying the promotion is manufacturing a fan base that doesn’t appreciate good-quality fighting and is satisfied with mismatches as long as there’s blood or a first-round finish. He argued that approach might boost ratings short-term but risks damaging the sport’s credibility over time, since the real draw of MMA is watching the best fighters face each other. He said the UFC is now cutting fighters for lacking finishes on their records rather than for their results.
Dana White Stays Vague, Locker Room Rallies Behind Him
Asked at a press conference about a fighter who is 16-0 overall and 7-0 in the UFC not getting a new deal, Dana White said there’s definitely a reason, without saying what it was or confirming that Basharat’s decision-heavy record played a role. White did not commit to revisiting the decision, and the UFC has made no further public comment on the matter since.
Several fighters publicly backed Basharat after his release. Amir Albazi called him a champion in their eyes, Marvin Vettori noted his unbeaten status, and Belal Muhammad responded with a simple show of support. His situation echoes that of Michael Page, released earlier this year despite a notable record, a decision that already reignited debate over how the UFC values fighters who win without finishing opponents. His older brother, Javid Basharat, was also cut by the UFC in February 2026, despite going 4-2 under contract. His manager, Ali Abdelaziz, had pushed as early as August for the promotion to keep him. No other organization has announced signing him, and his next fight remains unknown. For now, Basharat trains and waits as a free agent, with his perfect record intact but no cage booked to defend it. The latest results from the division are available on the UFC results page.
