Farid Basharat Exits UFC Roster Despite Undefeated Record

Undefeated bantamweight Farid Basharat has reportedly been removed from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster, despite maintaining a perfect record within the promotion. The news, initially reported by Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting, indicates that Basharat's departure stems from the expiration of his contract, with the UFC opting not to offer him a new deal.

Basharat, who holds an unblemished professional mixed martial arts record of 16-0, had compiled a 7-0 UFC record during his tenure. His last outing was a unanimous decision victory over John Garza at UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 in July 2026.

Contract Expiration Leads to Departure

Sources indicate that Basharat's contract concluded after his win against Garza. Prior to that bout, the 28-year-old fighter was aware it was the final fight on his existing agreement. According to MMA Fighting, Basharat had expressed his desire to re-sign with the promotion, stating before UFC 329, “If it were up to me, I’d re-sign straight away because ultimately the UFC is where everybody wants to be. I love being here.”

His manager, Ali Abdelaziz, also weighed in on the situation, telling Bloody Elbow that it would be "crazy" if the UFC did not re-sign Basharat, emphasizing his client's standing as one of the best bantamweights globally.

An Undefeated Run in the Octagon

Farid Basharat joined the UFC after earning a contract on Dana White's Contender Series in 2022. He quickly established himself in the bantamweight division, accumulating seven consecutive victories. His UFC record stands at 7-0-0, with notable wins against opponents such as Jean Matsumoto, Chris Gutierrez, and Taylor Lapilus. Before his last fight, Basharat was on a six-fight UFC win streak, which extended to seven with his win over Garza. He was officially ranked #13 in the UFC bantamweight division at the time of his reported removal.

His last fight against John Garza at UFC 329 in July 2026 saw him secure a unanimous decision after three rounds. The pre-fight market had favored Basharat significantly, giving him an 85% chance to win. Earlier in 2026, in February, he defeated Jean Matsumoto by split decision, where he was favored at 73% to win. In October 2025, he secured another unanimous decision against Chris Gutierrez at UFC 320.

While Basharat's record is perfect, six of his seven UFC victories came by decision. This aspect has been highlighted by outlets like Heavy, which suggested that the UFC's preference for fighters who secure finishes, coupled with the potential for a higher contract due to his undefeated status, might have influenced the decision not to renew his deal. Basharat's fighting style included an average of 3.0 takedowns per fight with 51% accuracy, alongside a 49% takedown defense rate.

Basharat now enters free agency, becoming a notable figure available to other promotions. This situation mirrors that of his brother, Javid Basharat, who also departed the UFC after a victory and subsequently signed with the PFL.

By the numbers

Fighter	UFC record	Ranking
Farid Basharat	7-0-0	Bantamweight #13

UFC records count UFC fights only. Records and rankings from UFC Stats and ufc.com.

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