Unbeaten Farid Basharat released by UFC after going 7-0 in the Octagon

Farid Basharat has been released by the UFC despite never losing a professional fight, with the promotion reportedly choosing not to renew his contract after he completed a 7-0 run inside the Octagon.

Basharat, who stands at 16-0 overall, earned his UFC deal through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022 and went unbeaten across seven bouts with the promotion. His final appearance came in July, when he defeated John Garza, but no new deal followed, according to MMA Fighting.

The Afghan-born British fighter built his UFC record with wins over notable opponents including Da’Mon Blackshear, Jean Matsumoto, and Chris Gutierrez. Six of his seven victories inside the Octagon came by way of decision, a pattern that may have contributed to the promotion’s decision not to retain him.

Basharat is not the first fighter to exit the UFC on a winning streak in recent memory. Muhammad Mokaev and Michael Page are among those whose contracts were also not renewed despite going unbeaten or on extended winning runs — a trend that has drawn attention to how the promotion evaluates fighter retention beyond the win-loss column.

The situation carries a family dimension as well. Farid’s brother, Javid Basharat, departed the UFC in February and has since signed with the Professional Fighters League. Javid won his final UFC bout but struggled for consistency in his later tenure, going 1-2 with one no contest across his last four appearances with the promotion.

Farid Basharat’s next move has not been announced, but at 16-0 he is likely to attract significant interest from rival promotions.