UFC Rumours: 50 fighters to be cut in the coming days?
If rumours are true, fighters whose careers may be going through a rocky patch could be in for some bad news very soon. Coming on the heels of confirmation that Matt Van Buren, Roger Navarez and Christos Giagos have received their walking papers, Swedish based MMA site MMAnytt.se has released an unconfirmed report that the UFC’s current roster is flooded with approximately 500 fighters, a figure that the company would prefer to sit at around 450. The report was subsequently pushed forward by Bloodyelbow.com.
If these reports are true, then the UFC may be headed for one of the biggest single event roster haul of all time—and by far the largest since a June 2013 round of cuts that saw Jon Fitch among 16 fighters released.
When the UFC needs to trim its roster there is generally no shortage of candidates; fighters who are on there first contract and who have failed to impress with 0-1, 0-2, 1-2 or otherwise underwhelming records will likely not receive any mercy from their employers. If the organization does intend to rid itself of 50 contracts, sending many one-and-done newcomers back to the regional scene, will it also look to trim their roster by ridding themselves of more expensive fighters that they feel they could do without?
Heavyweight Roy Nelson recently lost his third straight and has never seen eye to eye with UFC brass. Fighters such as Gilbert Melendez, who built a name in other promotions, can demand some serious coin upon their UFC debut, and in Melendez’ case, he has already fallen short in two title shots and sits on the sidelines due to a failed drug test after a decision loss to Eddie Alvarez earlier this year. Perhaps either of these fighters could find themselves being ousted from the UFC as a cost cutting measure this week?
There is no official word from the UFC as to what is going to happen, however, if rumours are true all will be revealed by Tuesday this week. Until then we are left to speculate who is safe and who may be on their way to the free market.
