The UFC is cleaning house, and even an undefeated record isn’t enough to keep some fighters safe anymore.

According to MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz, Afghan-British bantamweight Farid Basharat has reportedly been shown the door in the latest roster shake-up despite going a perfect 7-0 inside the Octagon.

The undefeated fighter had become a free agent after fighting out the final bout of his UFC contract against John Garza at UFC 329 in July.

After the decision win, Basharat even made a direct pitch for a new deal, pointing to his perfect 7-0 record inside the Octagon and making it clear he wanted a shot at climbing the rankings.

“This was the last fight on my contract,” Basharat told UFC commentator Joe Rogan. “I love this organization. I’m 16-0. I have the longest win streak in the division. I think I deserve a new contract, first and foremost. Don’t you think so?

“I wanna be the best in the world. The UFC is my dream since I was 10 years old. As long as I stay in this organization, I know that I’m gonna be a champion. I think I’m the most underrated fighter on this roster. I think I’m the most well-rounded guy on this roster, and I know I’m gonna be the champion of this weight division.”

Farid Basharat had one simple ask for the UFC matchmakers: put him in there with a top-ranked opponent and let him prove what he can do.

Despite his 16-0 record and sky-high confidence, the promotion has apparently decided against renewing his deal, leaving the undefeated bantamweight to now have to look for a next opportunity elsewhere.

This is particularly shocking considering Basharat is currently ranked No. 9 in the bantamweight rankings. He also has notable wins over Jean Matsumoto, Chris Gutierrez, Victor Hugo, and Taylor Lapilus.

However, the UFC’s decision to drop him from their roster may have something to do with the way his wins came about inside the Octagon.

Ever since punching his ticket into the UFC through the Contender Series in September 2022, Basharat has only had one win coming via a stoppage, a submission victory over Kleydson Rodrigues in September 2023. With six of his seven wins coming on the scorecards, the UFC likely decided against retaining him despite his undefeated record.

Interestingly, his older brother, Javid Basharat, suffered a similar fate earlier this year in February when the UFC also let him go despite a respectable 4-2 record inside their promotion. While his brother subsequently found a place in the PFL, it remains to be seen whether Farid Basharat can be as lucky.

Though, given his undefeated record and top-ranked status, in all likelihood, Basharat will quickly find a place in a new promotion.

The 29-year-old’s surprising exit also comes right on the heels of Dana White’s Contender Series wrapping up its latest season on Tuesday, with a record-tying 46 fighters earning UFC contracts.

Season 10’s final episode aired on Tuesday night, matching the record for most contracts handed out in a single season. The same number was reached in Season 7 in 2023 and Season 9 in 2025.

With another 46 prospects joining the UFC roster, the promotion has been making moves over the past 10 weeks to clear space for its newest arrivals.

While the 16-0 bantamweight’s exit is surprising to say the least, Farid Basharat isn’t the only top-ranked fighter to be shown the door in recent days.

Michael ‘Venom’ Page was also released despite winning four fights in a row and picking up five overall wins in his six UFC appearances.

Page’s departure has added to the scrutiny over how the UFC values fighters who keep winning without putting opponents away. Farid Basharat now finds himself facing similar questions about his future, despite his undefeated record.

Ali Abdelaziz previously urged the UFC to re-sign Farid Basharat

What makes the 29-year-old’s reported exit crazier is that he wasn’t some random name buried at the bottom of the division. Given his No. 9-ranked status, his exit is now sure to ruffle some feathers in the MMA community.

With Contender Series prospects pouring into the UFC, the promotion appears to be making some tough roster calls, even when it comes to fighters who simply don’t lose.

Basharat’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, actually saw this coming months ago and wasn’t shy about calling out the UFC. Back in August, Abdelaziz told Bloody Elbow that letting his undefeated client walk would be a huge mistake, arguing that Basharat had already done enough to prove he belonged among the best bantamweights in the world.

“It will be crazy if they don’t sign him, honestly,” Abdelaziz said. “But I see a lot of crazy s— lately. At the end of the day, I don’t write the checks.

“I think Farid is one of the best bantamweights on the planet. The right thing to do is to re-sign him.”

Abdelaziz’s plea appears to have fallen on deaf ears. Basharat is now free to shop his undefeated record elsewhere, with no reported deal with the PFL, ONE Championship, or another promotion.

Michael ‘Venom’ Page has already found his next payday after leaving the UFC. The Englishman signed a lucrative three-fight deal with Misfits Boxing and claimed he would make more from that agreement than he earned during his entire UFC contract. That’s a pretty wild upgrade, although there’s nothing suggesting Farid Basharat is planning to follow the same route.

At 29, Basharat remains undefeated and has time to rebuild his career elsewhere. His next deal could determine whether he eventually returns to the UFC or establishes himself as a contender in another promotion.