Farid Basharat Says UFC Told His Team He Was a Boring Fighter

Farid Basharat, the undefeated UFC bantamweight fighter, has disclosed that the promotion told his team he was a boring fighter. Despite boasting a 16-0 MMA record, the UFC released Basharat without offering him a new contract. This decision has left many fans puzzled, as it is unusual for the UFC to let go of a 29-year-old undefeated fighter at the peak of his career.

UFC President Dana White has only suggested that the decision was made by the matchmakers, though he has not provided further details. However, Basharat claims that the UFC brass directly spoke to his management and conveyed that they found his fighting style unexciting. Speaking to UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious Johnson, Basharat revealed that his manager learned from the UFC that they were not fans of his style following his victories over Chris Gutierrez and Jean Matsumoto.

Following his fight with Gutierrez last year, Basharat's manager called the UFC to inquire about their thoughts, only to be informed that they still considered his fight boring. In spite of his impressive record, Basharat struggled to finish fights, with only one of his seven wins concluding with a finish in the form of an arm-triangle choke victory over Kleydson Rodrigues in 2023.

The UFC appears to prioritize fighters who finish their bouts, while simultaneously promoting themselves as a platform for the best MMA talent in the world. This inconsistency has led to Basharat's departure from the UFC, though it is unclear if he will seek another opportunity with the organization.