Farid Basharat fires back at Dana White, denies ever turning down a UFC fight

Basharat, who went 7-0 in the UFC, said the promotion's own nutrition and physio staff could confirm he took fights in difficult circumstances, after White suggested there was a reason he was not re-signed.

Farid Basharat has rejected Dana White's suggestion that the UFC had good reason not to re-sign him, insisting he never turned down a fight.

White, speaking after UFC Edmonton on Saturday, said there was “definitely a reason” the promotion did not renew the 16-0 bantamweight's contract. He suggested fighters in that position are often hard to deal with or refuse fights.

Basharat said he had made clear many times that he did not turn anyone down. He pointed to bouts he accepted in tough circumstances, including one in which his opponent missed weight by 10 pounds and a Contender Series appearance he took with an elbow injury. He told White to check those facts with the UFC's own staff, naming the nutrition and physio teams, and said the same staff could answer whether he was difficult to deal with.

Basharat, who went 7-0 in the UFC, confirmed his departure last week. In a video posted before White's comments, he said his win at UFC 329 in July was the last fight on his contract and that the UFC put renewal talks on hold afterwards.

In that video, Basharat said he did not think he fitted the direction the promotion was heading in, which he described as a move towards brawlers willing to spill blood whether they win or lose.

Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing

Add Combat Sports UK as a preferred source on Google