UFC Sends Walking Papers To 15-2 Bantamweight Fighter Days After Short-Notice Win
UFC recently made an unexpected roster move by parting ways with a promising bantamweight fighter.
The athlete in question is Javid Basharat, who is coming off a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over a promotional newcomer, Gianni Vazquez, after accepting the bout on just two days’ notice at UFC Vegas 113 inside the META Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Basharat was initially scheduled to face Said Nurmagomedov last Saturday, but the bout fell through after Nurmagomedov withdrew for undisclosed reasons, leading to a late replacement matchup against Vazquez.
Despite emerging victorious, “Snow Leopard” has now been released by the UFC in a surprising turn of events. The roster move was first reported on social media by MMA journalist Tom Feely.
What Was Javid Basharat’s UFC Record?
Javid Basharat earned his way into the UFC with an impressive third-round submission victory over Oron Kahlon on Dana White’s Contender Series in October 2021. He carried that momentum into his promotional debut in March 2022, securing a convincing unanimous decision win against Trevin Jones.
“Snow Leopard” kept his strong run going in his next two outings, earning back-to-back unanimous decision victories over Tony Gravely and Mateus Mendonca.
After rattling off three straight wins, the 30-year-old Afghan fighter saw his run stalled when his bout with Victor Henry was ruled a no-contest following an accidental low blow that forced an abrupt stoppage at UFC 294 in October 2023.
Basharat struggled to regain his footing afterward, first dropping a unanimous decision to Aiemann Zahabi in March 2024 before suffering a first-round knockout loss to Ricky Simon in February 2025.
“Snow Leopard” ultimately closed out his promotional tenure with a 4-2 record, along with one no contest. He currently holds a professional record of 15-2, including five wins by knockout and six by submission.
