Javid Basharat Opens Up on UFC Departure After Contract Expired

Javid Basharat has broken his silence on his exit from the UFC, describing the circumstances of his departure as "messy" and acknowledging there were problems behind the scenes during his final stint with the promotion. The UFC opted not to offer him a new deal after the last fight on his contract earlier this year.

Basharat, known as "The Snow Leopard," is a 30-year-old bantamweight fighting out of England and training with Xtreme Couture. He carries a professional record of 15 wins and 2 losses and built a reputation inside the octagon as an active, precise striker. His numbers reflect that style — he averaged 5.18 significant strikes landed per minute at a 54 percent striking accuracy, figures that place him among the sharper offensive fighters in the 135-pound division. He also contributed on the grappling side, averaging 1.83 takedowns per fifteen minutes during his UFC tenure.

Despite those credentials, the promotion chose to move on after his contract ran its course. Basharat's willingness to speak openly about the split suggests the parting was not straightforward, and he indicated that internal issues played a role in how things ended.

Why it matters

• Basharat's output numbers — over five significant strikes per minute at better than 54 percent accuracy — suggest he will attract interest from other promotions looking for proven bantamweight talent.
• His departure adds another notable name to the free-agent pool at 135 pounds, a division with no shortage of competitive depth.
• The candid framing of the split as "messy" hints at tensions that went beyond simple roster management, which may shape how he approaches his next contract negotiation.

At 30 years old and with fifteen professional victories, Basharat has meaningful career runway ahead of him wherever he signs next.