Farid Basharat, who improved to 16-0 with a unanimous decision win over John Garza at UFC 329, remains a free agent after the UFC has yet to offer him a new contract. Manager Ali Abdelaziz publicly called on the promotion to re-sign Basharat, stating it would be "crazy" if they did not. Basharat's seventh consecutive UFC victory gave him the longest active winning streak in the bantamweight division.
Farid Basharat's manager is publicly pressuring the UFC to keep his fighter on the roster, calling it "crazy" if the promotion allows the unbeaten bantamweight to walk away as a free agent following his performance at UFC 329.
Basharat, who goes by "Ferocious," improved to a perfect 16-0 with a unanimous decision victory over John Garza at the event, extending what is now the longest active winning streak in the bantamweight division. That seventh consecutive UFC win came without a new contract in place, and the 29-year-old Englishman currently remains unsigned. Ali Abdelaziz, his manager, went public with his frustration, making clear the UFC has yet to present Basharat with a fresh deal.
The London Shootfighters product stands five-foot-eight with a 71-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. He lands 4.46 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 54 percent, and supplements his standup with a strong grappling game that produces 3.57 takedowns per 15 minutes. Ranked 14th in the bantamweight division, Basharat has built a case through volume, precision, and consistent finishing ability.
Garza, 23 years old, entered the fight at 6-2 and had shown a willingness to engage, averaging 5.47 significant strikes per minute. He was unable to secure a takedown across his UFC run, and his 43 percent striking accuracy left him at a disadvantage against the sharper Basharat.
Why it matters
- Basharat owns the longest active winning streak at 135 pounds, giving him real leverage in any contract negotiation.
- At just 29, he is entering what should be his prime competitive years, making a long-term deal logical for both sides.
- His combination of striking accuracy and takedown volume presents a difficult stylistic puzzle for any bantamweight contender.
- How the UFC responds could signal how the promotion values fighters just outside the top ten who have not yet headlined a major card.
