Basharat fires back at Dana White after UFC release despite unbeaten 7-0 record

Farid Basharat has hit back at UFC CEO Dana White after White cryptically implied the promotion had undisclosed reasons for not re-signing the unbeaten bantamweight following the completion of his contract.

Basharat’s departure from the UFC drew widespread attention last week given his 7-0 record inside the organisation and his status as a ranked bantamweight. Speaking at the post-fight press conference following UFC Edmonton on Saturday, White was asked directly why Basharat had not been retained, responding that “there’s definitely a reason” — and drawing a comparison to past cases where fighters were described as difficult to deal with.

In a video posted to social media on Sunday, Basharat rejected both implications outright.

“First of all, he kind of alluded to maybe I was turning down fights, or maybe I was difficult to deal with,” Basharat said. “I definitely didn’t turn nobody down. In fact, we’re talking about the same guy that, in Abu Dhabi when I fought in 2024, my opponent missed weight by 10 pounds and I still went ahead with the fight. From what I know, it’s the largest weight disparity in UFC history. Still went ahead with the fight, still put on a good show, and won.”

Basharat also pointed to his Contender Series appearance, in which he competed despite a torn MCL in his elbow, as further evidence of his willingness to perform under difficult circumstances.

“With regards to if I was difficult to deal with — speak to your staff. Ask anybody about me, there was no issues with me in any way, shape, or form,” he added. “I just feel like I had to make this video to clear things up.”

In a separate video published to his YouTube channel before White’s comments were made, Basharat outlined how his exit unfolded. He explained that UFC 329 in July was the final fight on his second contract, and that attempts to open renewal talks before the bout were met with delays from the organisation.

“We went through with the fight, obviously I got the victory, and then subsequently after that we reached out to say, ‘Let’s renegotiate,’” Basharat said. “They kind of stalled, just kind of put the talks on hold.”

Basharat noted that across his final three UFC opponents — who carried a combined record of approximately 20-6 and had been finished only once — he rocked or hurt every one of them. The Afghan-Canadian fighter’s release remains one of the more surprising roster decisions in recent UFC memory, and his public response ensures the dispute is unlikely to fade quietly.