Muhammad Mokaev believes the UFC has crossed a line with Farid Basharat. The unbeaten bantamweight left the promotion without securing a new contract. Mokaev accused UFC bosses of building a damaging story around his exit, one that, in his view, could follow Basharat to other promotions. Basharat went 7-0 inside the Octagon, yet still walked away without a new deal. Dana White said there was “definitely a reason” for the decision, although the UFC CEO insisted it had nothing to do with how Basharat fights. Mokaev knows this situation well. He was released in 2024 despite being undefeated, and he now fears that public comments about a fighter’s attitude or style can make potential employers cautious.
when fighters are getting phone calls from bosses telling them, “If you keep wrestling like that, you’re going to get cut,” then you’re basically telling fighters how you want them to fight. At what point does that cross the line? Isn’t that influencing the competition? And if you want to release a fighter, fine. But don’t then publicly say he was “hard to deal with” or create some bullshit narrative about him that could damage his reputation and make other organizations think twice about signing him. Release fighters if you want. Just don’t try to damage their careers on the way out
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) October 20, 2026
Muhammad Mokaev fires another shot at the UFC
Muhammad Mokaev wrote on X and argued that fighters should be allowed to leave without their reputations being publicly questioned. His main concern was the alleged pressure placed on wrestlers.
According to him, fighters have received calls warning that continued grappling-heavy performances could cost them their jobs. “If you keep wrestling like that, you’re going to get cut,” he added, describing the message fighters were said to have received.
“Release fighters if you want. Just don’t try to damage their careers on the way out,” he added. The post followed his earlier criticism of the UFC, in which he claimed the promotion values entertainment more than sporting merit.
Basharat’s manager challenges the UFC exit narrative
Basharat’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has rejected the idea that his fighter avoided tough matchups. According to Abdelaziz, Basharat accepted every opponent the UFC put in front of him and behaved like a “company guy” throughout his time with the promotion.
He also brought up a 2024 bout in which Basharat fought an opponent who came in 10 pounds overweight. For Abdelaziz, that example makes it difficult to argue that Basharat was unwilling to compete.
Mokaev has stopped short of blaming Dana White directly. Instead, he has pointed to TKO and Paramount, suggesting that business decisions, not the UFC CEO alone, are driving the recent exits of successful fighters.
At present, Basharat needs a new promotion. However, Mokaev’s interference has turned his exit into something much more. It has sparked a debate about how the UFC deals with successful fighters, its narrative control, and fighters dependent on wrestling.
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