Dana White Says Release Remark Was Not Aimed at Farid Basharat

Dana White used the UFC 333 press conference on Thursday to walk back the impression that he had singled out Farid Basharat, the bantamweight who left the roster last week when his contract was not renewed.

Basharat went 7-0 inside the Octagon and held a place in the division's rankings.

A few days after his exit, White suggested problems away from the cage, saying that "there's definitely a reason" when a fighter is let go in that way. Basharat answered by denying that he had turned down fights or been difficult to work with.

The subject returned when a reporter asked White whether Movsar Evloev should also worry about his job.

"I'm glad you asked me that question. What I would like to clarify — I saw the kid on Instagram last week," White said. "When I was talking about why some guys get released, or their contracts don't get renewed, I was just saying in general. I wasn't pointing him out, specifically."

Decisions and job security

Some fans, along with Basharat himself, link his departure to the UFC's growing preference for action fighters. Six of his seven wins in the promotion went to the judges. That led to questions about Evloev, who is 10-0 in the UFC with every one of those wins coming by decision.

White stopped short of a guarantee.

"No, I can't promise anything," he said. "But he's in a pretty good spot right now. He's still here, and he's fighting this weekend. He's fighting for the title. I don't think you need to worry about him at all."

Evloev challenges Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title on Saturday at UFC 333.

Source: MMA Fighting