UFC Releases Undefeated Farid Basharat Despite 7-0 Run
The 16-0 bantamweight was removed from the UFC roster after his final contract bout despite never losing.
Farid Basharat, one of the only undefeated fighters on the UFC roster, is no longer on it. The 29-year-old bantamweight has been removed from the promotion's active roster after completing his contract, per MMA Fighting.
Basharat went 7-0 inside the octagon after earning his deal on Season 6 of Dana White's Contender Series. His overall record sits at a spotless 16-0. But six of those seven UFC wins came by decision, and the lack of finishes may have played a role in the promotion's decision not to extend a new deal.
His most recent outing was a unanimous decision over short-notice replacement John Garza at UFC 329. Basharat revealed after the fight that he competed with a torn MCL and meniscus, injuries he suffered three weeks before the bout.
"I think I deserve a new contract first and foremost, don't you think so?" Basharat told Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview. "I know 100% I'm going to be champion. I think I'm the most underrated fighter in this roster."
The UFC apparently disagreed. Basharat is now a free agent at 135 pounds, a division loaded with talent across multiple promotions. Ki MMA, PFL, and Bellator successor organizations could all come calling for a fighter who has never tasted defeat at the professional level.
Basharat's release adds to a growing list of fighters who have left the UFC unbeaten, only to find out that winning isn't always enough if the finishes aren't there.
This one's frustrating. You go 7-0 in the UFC, you never lose, and they still show you the door? I get the business side. Decision fighters don't sell pay-per-views, and Basharat wasn't exactly lighting up highlight reels. But the man fought with a torn MCL and meniscus and still won. That tells you everything about his toughness.
The bantamweight division is the deepest weight class in MMA right now. Basharat was competitive against everyone they put in front of him. At 29 with a perfect record, he's a prime free agent target for Scott Coker's Ki MMA or any promotion looking for a legitimate talent who can anchor a division.
Here's my prediction: whoever signs him is getting a bargain. The UFC just let a future champion walk because he wasn't flashy enough. That's going to look bad in two years.
