Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White addressed after Basharat left
UFC Edmonton. White argued that there were reasons for the decision not to renew the contract outside of the results of the invincible weight, prompting a response.
Farid Basharat denies refusing UFC fights, cites Victor Hugo’s weight loss and torn MCL
The UFC did not offer Basharat (16-0) a new contract despite his 7-0 campaign record. After White brought up difficulties with matchmakers and dismissed fights as possible reasons for such departures, “Ferocious” reiterated that he has never rejected an opponent and pointed to instances where he competed under unfavorable conditions.
Basharat pointed to his win over Victor Hugo, who weighed in at 145.5 pounds — 9.5 pounds over the non-title limit — in the 2024 bantamweight originally scheduled. He also said he was competing with a torn medial ligament in his knee
Dana White Candidate Series release in 2022.
“He implied that maybe I rejected fights or was hard to deal with,” Basharat said on Instagram. “I certainly didn’t turn anyone down. In fact, we’re talking about the same guy I fought in Abu Dhabi in 2024; my opponent lost 10 pounds and I still went ahead with the fight… I still put on a good show and won. I had a torn MCL in my Contender Series fight, you can still ask. team.”
