\n<\/p>\n
Edmonton \u2014 A bit of an uproar followed the news earlier this month that undefeated 16-0 bantamweight Farid Basharat had not been re-signed to the UFC after picking up seven wins in the company.<\/p>\n
Basharat went as far as to release a statement just a few days ago, noting that the promotion was not what it once was, the insinuation being that perhaps it was his lack of finishes that had seen him let go.<\/p>\n
Now, UFC CEO and President Dana White has addressed the matter, speaking with Cageside Press during Saturday\u2019s UFC Edmonton post-fight press conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that when guys contracts are up\u2014 this isn\u2019t the first time this has happened,\u201d noted White, \u201cand either guys aren\u2019t good to deal with and the matchmakers don\u2019t want to deal with them, which could be turning down fights or whatever the reasoning is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re 16-0 with seven wins in the UFC, and don\u2019t get re-signed, there\u2019s definitely a reason,\u201d White added.<\/p>\n
White was much more upbeat about the likes of Mike Malott, Jasmine Jasudavicius, and Mandel Nallo, three of the big winners for Canada on Saturday. Malott, in particular, scored a vicious knee-strike knockout in the main event, flatlining Joaquin Buckley.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Mike to be the main event here, in a big fight in his home country, that\u2019s the way you want to get it done. You couldn\u2019t do it any better than that,\u201d stated White. As for Buckley, who snubbed White\u2019s handshake at Friday\u2019s ceremonial weigh-ins, \u201cas soon as he lost I told Hunter [Campbell], cut him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m f*cking joking,\u201d White added with a laugh. \u201cI have no problem with Joaquin Buckley.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked about the timing of Jasudavicius\u2019s win over Erin Blanchfield (the UFC just announced their return to Toronto in January), which could land her a title fight, White agreed it helped her chances. Natalia Silva currently holds flyweight gold, and the pair have history.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt definitely doesn\u2019t hurt. For both of these guys tonight, as the co-main and main, in their home country, to win the way that they won, it\u2019s definitely a good thing for both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for Mandel Nallo, who broke down Nate Landwehr in a near-flawless performance, \u201che absolutely put on a clinic,\u201d stated White. \u201cIt was incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n