UFC lets undefeated Basharat walk

Roster churn and crossover paydays shaped a quieter news day: the UFC let another undefeated, ranked fighter in Farid Basharat walk, Anthony Pettis lined up a boxing payday in India, and Colby Covington booked still more grappling. Inside the Octagon, UFC 335 filled out with Maycee Barber's return from a brutal knockout, while Dana White again waved off a champion's grievance — this time Alex Pereira's.

UFC releases undefeated, top-10 bantamweight Basharat after 7-0 run

Farid Basharat (16-0), the No. 9-ranked UFC bantamweight, has been removed from the roster after fighting out his contract with a July win over John Garza at UFC 329. The 29-year-old Afghan-born Briton went 7-0 in the Octagon with wins over Jean Matsumoto, Chris Gutierrez and Taylor Lapilus, but six of those came by decision and he wasn't offered a new deal despite asking Joe Rogan for one cageside. He follows Muhammad Mokaev, Michael Page and his own brother Javid — now in the PFL — as winning fighters cut loose.

Why it matters: The UFC keeps parting with undefeated, ranked fighters whose only sin is a shortage of finishes, undercutting its claim to roster the world's best and feeding the free-agent pipelines of the PFL and others.

Maycee Barber returns from brutal Grasso KO against streaking Judice at UFC 335

The UFC added Barber (15-3) vs. Carli Judice (7-2) at women's flyweight to UFC 335 on Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It's Barber's first fight since Alexa Grasso knocked her cold in March, ending a seven-fight win streak, and she faces a dangerous Judice riding four straight wins and three post-fight bonuses. The card also added DWCS signing Quentin Pasley (4-0), whom Dana White compared to a young Jon Jones, against Junior Tafa at light heavyweight.

Why it matters: A win keeps the No. 8-ranked Barber in the flyweight title mix under new champion Natalia Silva; a loss to a hot prospect could stall her comeback for good.

Anthony Pettis books boxing return against Jake Paul's Neeraj Goyat in India

Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis will box MVP-signed Neeraj Goyat (21-4-2) in a six-round super welterweight bout on Jan. 23, 2027, headlining what's billed as the biggest boxing card in Indian history. The event is co-promoted by Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions, with Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam or Chennai in the running to host. Pettis, 1-1 as a pro boxer, says the fight is personal revenge for brother Sergio's 2025 loss in India; he also wrestles Donald Cerrone at RAF 15 on Nov. 28.

Why it matters: Another UFC name takes the money and exposure outside the Octagon, with MVP using a recognizable ex-champ to plant its flag in a new market.

Dana White calls Pereira 'paranoid' over Cormier-manipulation claim

Dana White dismissed Alex Pereira's accusation that the UFC told commentator Daniel Cormier to publicly sell Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit over a Gane rematch for the UFC 334 title fight on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden. "These guys are the most paranoid people on the planet," White said, insisting he never scripts Cormier or Joe Rogan — and adding that if he did, "Sean Strickland would've been gone three f***ing years ago." Pereira, who lost to Gane in June, faces Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335.

Why it matters: White is swatting down a second disgruntled champion in a week, lumping Pereira's grievance in with Strickland's pay revolt as routine business noise rather than a problem worth addressing.

Covington vs. Danis submission-only grappling match set for Nov. 3 in Rome

Colby Covington and Dillon Danis will meet in a submission-only grappling match on Hype Fighting's Nov. 3 card in Rome. It's a rematch of sorts — Covington beat Danis by technical fall at RAF 7 in March and is 5-0 on the crossover wrestling scene since leaving the UFC. The bout lands just 11 days before Covington is due to grapple Khamzat Chimaev at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14.

Why it matters: Covington has quietly built a full second act in crossover wrestling, while Danis keeps chasing relevance years removed from an actual fight.

UFC 333 title odds open as pick-'em; Volkanovski floats Gaethje swan song

Oddsmakers installed Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev at -110 apiece for their featherweight title headliner on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi, while bantamweight champion Petr Yan opened a -180 favorite over Merab Dvalishvili in their trilogy co-main. Volkanovski, defending against the unbeaten 20-0 Evloev, floated a lightweight-title "super fight" against Justin Gaethje as a mutual send-off should he win. Jorge Masvidal warned that Evloev's relentless grappling and grip could wear the 38-year-old champion down over five rounds.

Why it matters: A rare pick-'em title fight and a championship trilogy anchor one of the year's deepest cards, with Volkanovski already angling for a third crack at 155 pounds.

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