Dana White walks back Basharat remarks, insists comments were not aimed at released fighter

Dana White has distanced himself from comments widely interpreted as a direct dig at Farid Basharat, the unbeaten bantamweight released by the UFC last week despite a 7-0 record and a spot in the promotion’s rankings.

Speaking at the UFC 333 pre-fight press conference on Thursday, White said his earlier remarks — in which he suggested there was “definitely a reason” fighters sometimes do not get renewed — were meant as a general observation rather than a specific accusation against Basharat.

“I’m glad you asked me that question,” White said. “When I was talking about why some guys get released, or their contracts don’t get renewed, I was just saying in general. I wasn’t pointing him out, specifically.”

Basharat had publicly pushed back on White’s initial comments, denying that he had turned down fights or been difficult to work with. The fighter’s removal from the roster drew significant attention partly because of his unblemished record and his standing in the bantamweight rankings — a rare combination for a fighter to lose their contract.

The clarification came after a reporter asked whether Movsar Evloev — who enters Saturday’s main event at 10-0 in the UFC and challenges Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title — should have any concern about his own job security. The question reflected a wider theory among fans that the promotion is increasingly prioritising finishing ability over winning records built on decisions. Six of Basharat’s seven UFC victories came by way of the judges’ scorecards, and Evloev’s record is similarly decision-heavy.

White moved quickly to put those concerns to rest. “No, I can’t promise anything,” he said. “But he’s in a pretty good spot right now. He’s still here, and he’s fighting this weekend. He’s fighting for the title. I don’t think you need to worry about him at all.”

The episode has nonetheless reignited debate about the criteria the UFC uses when deciding which fighters to retain, particularly for those who win consistently but rarely produce stoppages.