Farid Basharat out of the UFC at 16-0: no new contract after seven straight wins

Unbeaten bantamweight Farid Basharat has left the UFC at 16-0, saying the promotion offered him neither a new contract nor an opponent after his last fight, Sherdog reported on Friday 16 October 2026. His seventh UFC win, over John Garza in July, was the last bout on his deal.

In a statement on Instagram, Basharat said he had received no offer and no fight since July, and that he had never turned down a bout. He also criticised the direction of the company, saying the UFC "just isn't what it used to be".

The record

Basharat says his run is the longest active winning streak in the bantamweight division and the fourth longest in the UFC.

Why it is unusual

Fighters normally leave the UFC after losses. An unbeaten fighter on a seven-fight streak is rarely let go, which is why the news drew attention. The UFC has not commented publicly on Basharat's exit, and Sherdog did not report where he will fight next. Until he signs elsewhere, he is a free agent and any promotion can make him an offer.

What happens next

• A new promotion: as a free agent he can sign with any organisation, and an unbeaten record with seven UFC wins is a strong position to negotiate from.
• A return later: the UFC has re-signed fighters it let go when they kept winning elsewhere.
• His own word: Basharat's statement suggests he wants to fight soon, since he said he had been waiting for an opponent since July.

Watching from Pakistan

UFC numbered events usually finish on Sunday mornings in Pakistan time. Our living UFC schedule in Pakistan time lists the next cards with PKT start times, and we will add Basharat's next fight when it is announced.