UFC president Dana White announced in November that the organization would be releasing 60 fighters. There is no definitive source of who is on the roster, and it did not feel as if 60 fighters have been released since.
When a fighter leaves the UFC, via release, retirement, or not re-signing, there is often a public announcement, typically on the social network. However, sometimes it happens without widespread notice. Nolan King and Mike Bohn for MMA Junkie recently identified nine fighters no longer on the roster, some recent, and some well over a year old.
Aleksandra Albu
(3-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) The mediagenic Moldovan strawweight got a UFC contract with a 1-0 record, and won her first two fights in the Octagon, but then lost two, and is out. She has not fought since October 26, 2019.
Ali Alqaisi
(8-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) “The Royal Fighter” entered the UFC’s Fight Island series on a five-fight win streak, the last three in BRAVE CF, but lost a Split Decision in his Octagon debut, then a Unanimous Decision, and is out. He will forever be the first Jordanian fighter signed by the UFC.
Cyril Asker
(9-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) France’s “Silverback” entered the UFC with a 7-1 record, as the heavyweight champion of South Africa’s EFC Worldwide, and alternated wins and losses. He has not fought since a TKO loss to Tai Tuivasa at UFC 221 on February 11, 2018.
Alex Chambers (5-5 MMA, 1-4 UFC)
The now 42 year old Australian “Astro Girl” ended on a three-fight losing streak, and has not fought since UFC Fight Night 137 on September 22, 2018.
Chris De La Rocha (5-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
The heavyweight corrections officer from Washington state entered the UFC with a 4-0 record, but was 1-3 in the UFC, and has not fought since UFC on Fox 31 on December 15, 2018.
Syuri Kondo (6-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
The Japanese professional wrestler, kickboxer, shootboxer, and mixed martial artist left the UFC on a three-fight losing streak. She has not fought since UFC on ESPN+ 12 on June 22, 2019.
Bojan Mihajlovic (10-6 MMA, 0-3 UFC)
Serbia’s “Bojangles” entered the big show on a 10-fight win streak at heavyweight in 2016, and had the misfortune of drawing Francis Ngannou in his debut. He lost the next two too, and has not fought since UFC Fight Night 115 on September 2, 2017.
Suman Mokhtarian (8-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
The Australian featherweight entered TUF 27 with an 8-0 record, but suffered a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus. When that healed, he was signed, but he lost to Sodiq Yusuff and then Seung Woo Choi. In the latter fight he again injured his knee, and not fought since, but intends to continue fighting internationally.
Dmitry Sosnovskiy (11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
The 31-year-old heavyweight “Wicked Machine” from Moscow, Russia with a perfect record is an anomaly. He entered the UFC with a 10-0 record, and won his debut at UFC Fight Night 127 on March 17, 2018, but has not fought since. The release may be tied to his arrest on abduction and extortion charges.
With new talent coming in from Dana White’s Contender Series, and from across the globe, and no immediate plans by the UFC to expand the number of events during the pandemic, many more cuts are expected.
