Overview
- Farid Basharat confirmed on Thursday that he is no longer with the UFC after the promotion removed him from its roster when his contract expired and did not offer a new deal.
- Basharat departs undefeated at 16-0 overall and 7-0 in the UFC and said he was never presented with a contract or opponent after his July win at UFC 329.
- Multiple outlets and analysts point to Basharat’s low finish rate — six of seven UFC wins went to decision — as a likely factor in the promotion’s decision not to re-sign him.
- The roster move follows a Contender Series season that matched the record for most UFC contracts awarded, a surge that sources say prompted the company to clear spots for incoming prospects.
- As a free agent Basharat can now sign elsewhere and observers identify the PFL and other international promotions as probable next homes while his public criticism of the UFC adds to debate over the organization’s retention priorities.