Farid Basharat Breaks Silence After UFC Exit
Farid Basharat's departure from the UFC has been confirmed after being removed from the promotion’s roster on October 14. Taking to Instagram today, he has expressed his thoughts on the promotion's decision.
Farid Basharat Says UFC Never Offered Him a New Deal
Farid Basharat has sent out his message on Instagram, reflecting on his UFC run but also questioning the direction the promotion is heading in.
“The news is confirmed, I am no longer with the UFC,” Basharat wrote.
“I’m proud and happy with what I’ve accomplished inside the Octagon. I leave with a stainless record.”
The fighter also addressed rumours about the changing type of fighters the UFC is looking to add to its roster, suggesting that his game was not the reason behind the decision and that the UFC is not the same as what he once grew up watching.
“But my departure clearly has nothing to do with my fighting capabilities. Unfortunately the organisation just isn’t what it used to be. They’re heading in a different direction from what we all grew up loving,” he stated.
The undefeated bantamweight claims that he had been left waiting for the UFC to contact him after his last fight.
“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,” he added.
Reasons Behind Farid Basharat’s UFC Exit
The 29-year-old earned his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022 and went on to win all seven of his fights with the promotion. His winning streak included wins over Taylor Lapilus, Chris Gutierrez, and Jean Matsumoto.
His last fight was at UFC 329, where he defeated John Garza by unanimous decision. Before the fight, Basharat had revealed that it was the final bout on his existing contract.
It is important to note that six of his seven UFC victories came by decision. This led to public speculation that his finishing rate may have been one of the reasons for the decision. However, the UFC has not confirmed why they chose not to re-sign him.
Basharat’s exit also follows that of his older brother, Javid Basharat. He left the UFC earlier in 2026 before signing with the Professional Fighters League. Farid has yet to announce his next move, but the PFL/ MVP MMA can be a potential destination.
