Mokaev Blasts UFC Over Basharat Release Narrative

Muhammad Mokaev accused the UFC of manufacturing a damaging story around Farid Basharat's release from the promotion.

Basharat, who improved to 16-0 with a decision victory over John Garza at UFC 329 in July, was not re-signed despite a perfect 7-0 record inside the octagon. UFC president Dana White previously suggested unspecified reasons beyond fight performance led to the split, but Basharat said officials disliked his wrestling-heavy approach and lack of finishes.

Mokaev, who was similarly released in 2024 despite never losing in the promotion, took to social media to defend Basharat and question the organization's tactics. "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," Mokaev wrote, per MMA Fighting. "At what point does that cross the line?"

The flyweight contender specifically criticized the practice of publicly questioning a departing fighter's character. He argued that creating narratives about athletes being difficult to work with damages their reputations and hurts their prospects with other organizations.

Mokaev's own UFC exit came after a lackluster decision win over Manel Kape at UFC 304, compounded by a physical altercation between the two during fight week in which Mokaev admitted throwing the first punch. The 26-year-old has gone 4-0 since leaving, finishing three opponents, and currently sits seventh in the MMA Fighting flyweight rankings.