UFC Drops No. 13 Farid Basharat After 16-0 Run

Q: Will this undefeated prodigy follow his brother to a rival promotion, or is a shock UFC return still possible?

A move to a rival promotion looks more likely in the near term, though a UFC return cannot be ruled out. The clearest signal is that Basharat was allowed to hit free agency despite going 7-0 in the UFC and 16-0 overall. He finished his contract with a July win over John Garza, had already climbed into the bantamweight top 10, and still was not offered a new deal. That suggests the UFC made a deliberate business decision rather than a temporary paperwork issue. There are also practical reasons a rival could be attractive. His older brother Javid Basharat has already signed with the PFL after his own UFC release, giving Farid an obvious family and team pathway outside the UFC. An unbeaten, ranked-caliber bantamweight with wins over Chris Gutierrez, Taylor Lapilus and Jean Matsumoto would likely draw interest from the PFL and other major promotions. At the same time, a shock UFC return remains possible because the split was contract-based, not disciplinary or performance-related. Reports indicate the UFC can still re-sign him later. Basharat himself also made clear after beating Garza that he wanted to stay, calling the UFC his dream and saying he believed he could become champion if given higher-ranked opposition. For now, the balance of evidence points to Basharat testing the open market, with PFL the most natural destination. But if the UFC decides his undefeated record and top-10 status are too valuable to lose, a late re-signing remains realistic.

Q: Why would the UFC suddenly release an undefeated top-10 fighter right at the peak of his career?

The likeliest reason is business, not merit: Basharat reached the end of his contract at the exact point when he was due a raise, and the UFC apparently decided his value to them did not justify a richer new deal. That can happen even with an unbeaten fighter. Basharat went 7-0 in the UFC and climbed into the bantamweight top 10, but he was not a major draw and most of his wins came by decision. Reports around the move have pointed to the same factor often used in UFC roster decisions: the company strongly favors fighters who produce finishes or clear entertainment value, especially when contract renewal means paying significantly more. The UFC also has unusual leverage because of its depth. With Dana White’s Contender Series continuing to feed the roster with cheaper prospects, matchmakers can be selective. A technically strong, lower-finishing fighter may be seen as replaceable from a cost standpoint, even if he is ranked and undefeated. There is also precedent. His brother Javid Basharat was released off a win and later signed with the PFL. In other recent cases, UFC officials have openly said matchmakers, not records alone, determine who gets renewed. So this was probably a contract-value decision: Basharat is good enough to keep, but at the price and style profile attached to his next deal, the UFC chose to let him test the market. That does not rule out a return later if terms change or he boosts his leverage elsewhere.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Oct 15

Farid Basharat became a free agent after the UFC let his contract lapse following his July unanimous-decision win over John Garza at UFC 329.
The 28-year-old bantamweight leaves the promotion unbeaten at 16-0 overall and 7-0 in the Octagon, despite saying he hoped to re-sign.
UFC officials have not offered a new deal, with the report pointing to Basharat's six decision wins and a likely pay raise as factors in the non-renewal.
Basharat was ranked No. 13 in the UFC's media rankings and will now drop out, while his next landing spot could include the PFL, where brother Javid Basharat already moved.