Top-ranked bantamweight Farid Basharat has been removed from the UFC roster after completing his contract. The 29-year-old, 16-0 overall, finished his deal with a July win over John Garza and was not offered a new contract. Basharat went 7-0 in the UFC after earning his deal on Dana White's Contender Series in 2022, reaching the top 10 of the bantamweight rankings with wins over Jean Matsumoto, Chris Gutierrez and Taylor Lapilus. Having fought out his contract, he is free to sign with any promotion, though the UFC could re-sign him in future; his older brother Javid Basharat was also released earlier and has since joined the PFL.
Undefeated bantamweight Farid Basharat is no longer on the UFC roster after fighting out his contract, with the promotion opting not to offer him a new deal.
The 29-year-old English fighter, 16-0 overall, closed out his UFC agreement with a July win over John Garza. He now holds free-agent status and can negotiate with any promotion, though the UFC could still bring him back in the future.
Basharat earned his place in the organization through Dana White's Contender Series in 2022 and went 7-0 inside the octagon. He climbed into the top 10 of the bantamweight rankings on the strength of wins over Jean Matsumoto, Chris Gutierrez and Taylor Lapilus. He is currently listed at number 13 in the division.
A London Shootfighters product who stands five-foot-eight with a 71-inch reach, Basharat built his unbeaten run on grappling. He averages 3.57 takedowns per 15 minutes, paired with 4.46 significant strikes landed per minute at 54 percent accuracy.
One of his notable UFC wins came against Gutierrez, a 35-year-old American from Factory X who sits at 22-7-2. Gutierrez, known as El Guapo, lands 4.4 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy, which made him a useful measure of Basharat's rise through the division.
Basharat's release also reunites a family storyline. His older brother, Javid Basharat, was released by the UFC earlier and has since joined the PFL. Javid, 31, is 15-2 and trains out of Xtreme Couture, and he lands 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- An unbeaten, ranked bantamweight reaching the open market is a rare event, and it gives rival promotions a clear target.
- Fulfilling the contract rather than being cut mid-deal leaves him free to negotiate from a position of strength.
- A move to the PFL would put both Basharat brothers in the same promotion.
- The UFC leaves the door open to a return, so his next move will shape where one of the division's top grapplers competes.
