Farid Basharat is tight-lipped when it comes to why the UFC refused to offer him a new contract after going 7-0.
Basharat is 16-0 as a professional fighter and has the longest winning streak in the UFC. That didn’t stop “Meh” from being promoted when it came time to offer him a new contract. Basharat joins a growing list of fighters with winning records contracts were not renewed.
Dana White mysteriously proposed an unnamed a deeper reason because Bashara was not re-signed. If we had to guess, we’d say it’s because the Afghan fighter only finished one fight in seven fights. In a new video, Basharat shares more of his thoughts.
“I think the company, the UFC, is producing a fan base that doesn’t appreciate a quality fight,” Basharat said. “Even if it’s a mismatch, even if it’s a low-level fight, as long as there’s blood, as long as it’s the end of the first round, we’re happy.”
“I don’t think you can build a sport out of it,” he continued. “Because you can do well in the ratings for a few years, but sooner or later it legitimizes the sport and the fans are left wanting quality fights.”
“When I see the best against the best, that’s entertainment for me. But the UFC is guaranteed $7.7 billion over the next seven years, so they’re clearly great at what they do. So what do I know?”
Basharat leaves the organization at a time when UFC events are miraculously posting a record number of finishes per event. It certainly sounds exciting at first glance, but longtime MMA fans know that these are competitive back-and-forth wars that are the real highlights, not endless first-round knockouts.
The other side’s unspoken argument is that the UFC won’t keep you out if you’re not exciting. Basharat’s critics note his lack of finishing, difficult driving style and low striking stats. But the guy will not lay eggs in the octagon under any circumstances. At what point does knocking down a 7-0 fighter become a publicity violation?