Farid Basharat wasn’t offered a new contract with the UFC, despite a 7-0 record and a top 10 ranking with the promotion, but Dana White effectively kicking him on the way out the door may have hurt more than anything else.
The rising bantamweight contender has long since accepted that the UFC decided not to re-sign him after he fought out his most recent contract, but when asked about why the promotion passed on bringing him back, White said ,“if you’re 16-0, with seven wins in the UFC and don’t get re-signed, there’s definitely a reason.”
White also said “either guys aren’t good to deal with and the matchmakers don’t want to deal with them, which could be turning down fights or whatever the reasoning is.”
Basharat already responded to White denying he ever turned down fights, or had a bad relationship with the matchmakers, but the comments still hurt because it paints him in such a bad light when none of that is true.
“The problem is Dana’s got such an influence and power that when he says something, everyone takes it as factual,” Basharat told MMA Fighting. “Although I think he was talking generally or quite broadly or vaguely, it did damage to me. Because then people say ‘oh you turned down fights’ or ‘you were tough to deal with staff and stuff.’ Both of them are ridiculous statements.”
Truth be told, Basharat doesn’t believe that White really has any idea what happened behind the scenes so he spoke in generalities rather than fact. Regardless, the damage was done.
“My thing with Dana is this: I’m not saying anything personal to Dana because I don’t think Dana is aware of the situation,” Basharat said. “I don’t think so. I don’t think Dana deals with the contract negotiations of fighers and stuff anymore. The only interactions I’ve had with Dana are at The Contender Series, I see him at weigh-ins, I shake his hand and what not, but at The Contender Series, he spoke glowingly about me, spoke very well and decided to sign me. Since then I’ve only gotten better and fought for a tougher position and put on better and better performances.
“I don’t think Dana is fully aware of myself and the contract negotiations. I think it’s the people below or whoever makes the decisions in that regard. So [my objections] were nothing directed towards Dana because I know he’s not fully aware.”
As far as the future goes, Basharat said his manager has assured him he’s in tough with every organization about a potential deal but nothing is imminent. Basharat admits after having surgery recently that he’s in “no rush” to book a fight.
But what about working with the UFC again if circumstances change, and the promotion offers him a second chance?
“UFC’s always been the dream so it’s tough to say no to them, but it all depends on what kind of stance they take with me,” Basharat said. “Are they going to be upset with me, especially with how everything’s transpired? I wasn’t exactly in the good books beforehand. I can’t imagine after all of this that’s gone on now. So I won’t say no right now.
“We’ll have to see when the time comes. Basically what I’m trying to say is I don’t need the UFC to have a successful career and do well.”