Farid Basharat

Farid Basharat is a 28-year-old Afghan-British bantamweight climbing the UFC rankings with a spotless 15-0 record. Born in Paktia, Afghanistan, Basharat and his older brother Javid arrived in England as refugee children and reconnected with their father. He started fighting at 15 with dreams of becoming a world champion, inspired by legends like Khabib Nurmagomedov. After a dominant run on the English regional circuit, Basharat earned his UFC contract by winning Dana White's Contender Series in September 2022 and has remained undefeated through five straight Octagon appearances.

Basharat is a well-rounded operator who excels in the clinch and on the mat. He lands over 4 significant strikes per minute while absorbing fewer than 3, boasts a 62 percent striking defense rate, and has recorded six submission wins predominantly via rear-naked choke and arm triangle. His grappling is his calling card: he submitted Kleydson Rodrigues in just 4:15 of the first round at UFC Fight Night in September 2023, establishing himself as a legitimate finisher. He won his last three bouts via decision against tougher opposition, most recently taking a split-decision victory over Jean Matsumoto at UFC Fight Night in February 2026.

At UFC 320 in October 2025, Basharat put on a masterclass against Chris Gutierrez, a 22-fight veteran. He controlled the first two rounds with relentless grappling and striking, and after dominating the performance he declared he had done more damage to Gutierrez than any fighter in the veteran's career. Basharat called it a statement to the rest of the bantamweight division, and with his recent jump to #15 in the rankings, he is positioned as a serious rising prospect. For fans looking for an undefeated fighter who combines grappling with striking, carries genuine pride in representing Afghanistan globally, and is driven by a refugee family story, Basharat is a prospect worth watching before he breaks into genuine title contention.