Joe Rogan hits out at UFC for releasing undefeated Farid Basharat

Rogan said he told Basharat in the Octagon after his last fight that he was sure a new contract would follow, but admitted he does not know what happened.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Fri 23 Oct, 02:24 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Farid Basharat speaks to Joe Rogan in the Octagon after a UFC win — Photo: Getty Images via Bloody Elbow

Joe Rogan has criticised the UFC's decision to let Farid Basharat go, saying an undefeated fighter should not lose his place because his style is seen as boring.

Basharat, 29, is 16-0 but was released by the UFC last week. Speaking on the JRE MMA Show with former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, Rogan said: "I don't like that thinking that you have to be uber exciting." He added: "The guy is very skilful, obviously, he's undefeated and they just decided that they didn't like his style."

Rogan said the last time he spoke to Basharat was in the Octagon after his last fight, when he told him he was sure he would get another contract. He said he had not spoken to Dana White, Hunter Campbell or Sean Shelby about the decision: "I'm talking out of school, I didn't talk to Dana, Hunter or Sean Shelby, I don't know what happened, but I didn't like it."

His answer was to match Basharat with someone who would push him and make it a crazy fight. He pointed to Khamzat Chimaev, whose title win over Dricus du Plessis a lot of people thought was boring, and asked whether that meant Chimaev could no longer fight in the UFC. "Everyone is trying to win," Rogan said. "This is what the game is, it's winning."

After the release, White hinted at issues behind the scenes over Basharat's willingness to take certain fights, the same reason he gave for Muhammad Mokaev's exit. White has since said his comments were not aimed at Basharat specifically, while Basharat has said the UFC is no longer what it once was.

In this story

Farid Basharat Robert Whittaker Khamzat Chimaev Muhammad Mokaev