Just days before Christmas, the UFC announced the release of four fighters from its roster.
Rhys McKee confirmed his second departure from the organization last week, which came as little surprise given his 1-5 record across two UFC stints. It was also revealed that Loic Radjabov was cut after compiling a 2-2 record in the Octagon.
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, who competed in 18 UFC fights, was another notable release. The Brazilian welterweight finished with 11 wins, six losses, and one draw during his UFC tenure. His highlight moment was a spinning wheel kick knockout against Sean Strickland in May 2018. However, having won only one of his last five bouts, his exit was expected.
In contrast, the cutting of Rinat Fakhreddinov shocked fans worldwide. At 34 years old, Fakhreddinov was undefeated since his only career loss on his debut in 2013. He held an impressive 24-1-1 record, including a 6-0-1 UFC record since joining in 2022. His last fight was a 54-second knockout win at UFC Paris in September, but despite this, the UFC chose not to renew his contract.
Additionally, just days earlier, the promotion released six more fighters: Marcin Prachnio (4-7 UFC record), Viacheslav Borshchev (3-6-1), Ricardo Ramos (8-7), Mark Bougros (0-1), Łukasz Brzeski (1-6), and Yusaku Kinoshita (0-2).
Fan Take: These roster changes highlight the UFC’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a highly competitive environment, ensuring only the best fighters remain. For fans, this could signal exciting upcoming opportunities for new talent to emerge and shake up the division standings.
