Undefeated Basharat disputes White over UFC departure

Took Abu Dhabi bout with 10-pound weight miss in 2024

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

What happened: Farid Basharat rejected Dana White's suggestion that an undisclosed reason kept the UFC from re-signing him. White made the remark when asked about Basharat following UFC Edmonton on Saturday. Basharat answered Sunday defending his history of accepting fights and working with staff.

Why it matters: Basharat exits as a ranked bantamweight with a 7-0 UFC mark. His account cites stalled renewal talks after his final bout in July and a stylistic split over high-IQ fighting. The dispute draws attention to how the promotion handles winning contenders at contract time.

By the numbers: Basharat went 7-0 in the UFC. He says he accepted a 2024 Abu Dhabi bout despite a 10-pound miss and a Contender Series bout with a torn MCL in his elbow. His final contracted bout came at UFC 329 in July, followed by about three months without renewal talks before the October split.

What to watch: Basharat has not announced his next promotion. His destination as a free-agent ranked bantamweight is the immediate watch.

Sources

MMA Fighting 2026-10-19T12:00:30.094932+00:00

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