Dana White walks back Basharat comments, won't rule out UFC return; Rogan criticizes cut

Dana White has backed away from the most damaging part of his explanation for the Farid Basharat release. Days after saying fighters usually have done something to keep them from being re-signed, the UFC CEO told the UFC 333 press conference in Abu Dhabi that he was not talking about Basharat specifically.

White said Basharat's response video on Instagram changed his view. "I didn't mean to do that to that kid," he said. Basharat had asked that the UFC not hurt his career if it would not re-sign him. White said he has no problems with the bantamweight, personally or professionally, and expects him to be signed elsewhere. Basharat answered on X the same day with a short post: "Respect to Dana."

The door is not closed, but it is not wide open. White said a return is a possibility, yet he would not put it in the near future. The underlying question is still unanswered: nobody has publicly explained why a 29-year-old who went 7-0 in the UFC was let go. His last contracted fight was a decision win over John Garza in July.

The usual explanation is style. Heavy noted that only one of Basharat's seven UFC wins ended early, a submission. Basharat, Muhammad Mokaev and Michael Page have all said they believe the promotion now values entertainment over winning.

Joe Rogan took that side on his podcast, according to MMA Fanatik. He said he told Basharat in the Octagon after his last fight that a new contract was certain. He admitted he does not know the details and has not spoken with White, Hunter Campbell or Sean Shelby, but said he dislikes cutting an unbeaten fighter for being seen as boring. He suggested matching Basharat with an aggressive opponent instead, and pointed to Khamzat Chimaev's title win over Dricus du Plessis, a fight many found dull.

What to watch now is where Basharat signs and whether he finishes fights there. Heavy's view is that a few wins, ideally stoppages, would bring the UFC back to the table.