Javid Basharat says unbeaten Farid learned of UFC release with the public after three months of silence

Javid Basharat has publicly defended his brother Farid after the unbeaten bantamweight was quietly cut by the UFC despite finishing his contract with a perfect 7-0 record inside the promotion, sparking a public dispute with CEO Dana White over the reasons behind the decision.

Farid Basharat, who stands 16-0 as a professional, was not offered a new deal when his contract expired — a move that drew immediate scrutiny given his unblemished run in the organisation. At the UFC Edmonton post-fight press conference, White was asked to explain the departure and implied there were factors beyond Farid’s results that influenced the decision, though he declined to name a specific incident.

Farid pushed back on Instagram Stories, writing: “A lot of assumptions made, but no facts were said. I definitely wasn’t turning down fights.”

Javid, whose own UFC contract was not renewed in February, went further in his brother’s defence, flatly contradicting White’s framing. “I can vouch that no fights were turned down nor were we hard to deal with,” Javid wrote. “As a matter of fact we have never had a conversation with regard to renewing the contract. We patiently waited 3 months and we found out when everyone else found out!”

The statement raises pointed questions about the UFC’s communication with fighters approaching the end of their deals. According to Javid, neither brother was approached about an extension during the three months between the contract’s expiry and the public announcement — leaving Farid to learn of his release through the same channels as fans and media.

With both Basharat brothers now outside the UFC, the episode has reignited broader debate about how the promotion handles roster decisions, particularly for fighters who have not lost inside the organisation. Farid’s 7-0 UFC record and undefeated professional career will make him one of the more sought-after free agents in the bantamweight division.