UFC releases 16-fight veteran who Islam Makhachev fought in his very first important event

The UFC roster purge in 2026 is constant.

Recent weeks and months have seen numerous fighters lose their spots on the UFC roster.

The promotion is seemingly clearing room for the upcoming season of Dana White’s Contender Series, which can see dozens of latest prospects signed by MMA’s leading organization.

Eyebrows were raised recently when the UFC removed Daniel Marcos from the roster despite his 18-1 skilled record. But fans are less shocked at who has change into the most recent fighter to affix the Peruvian outside of the Octagon.

In case you were Dana White, who’s the primary fighter you’d cut from the UFC roster?

Islam Makhachev’s ex-rival Thiago Moises faraway from the UFC roster after 16 fights

Per MMA Fighting, lightweight veteran Thiago Moises has been faraway from the UFC roster.

The Brazilian veteran fought 16 times contained in the Octagon, going 8-8 with wins over the likes of Melquizael Costa, King Green, Alexander Hernandez and Michael Johnson.

Moises enjoyed the perfect type of his UFC profession when he won three fights in a row between 2020 and 2021. That run got here to an end by the hands of then-future lightweight and welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.

Within the Dagestani’s important event debut at UFC Vegas 31 in July 2021, Makhachev submitted Moises in round 4 with a rear-naked choke.

Makhachev didn’t have all of it his own way on that night. Moises is one in all only two fighters to have taken down the present welterweight king within the UFC, with the opposite being Arman Tsarukyan.

Moises has lost five of nine fights since his showdown with the legendary Russian, and consecutive losses to Jared Gordon and Trey Ogden ultimately spelled the top of his eight-year run within the UFC.

At 31 years old, Moises may have the option to work his way back to the UFC.

The previous LFA champion may decide to follow Marcos’ path by joining the Skilled Fighters League (PFL), where numerous ex-UFC stars have gone after not being re-signed.