Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) removed 18 fighters from its roster this week — 17 in one day — as it gears up for the UFC 274 pay-per-view (PPV) event on Sat. night (May 7) at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
UFC Roster Watch posted the changes on May 4, with light heavyweight “Hurricane” Ike Villanueva the lone fighter to be removed the following day (May 5).
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CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE DIP! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Phoenix, Ariz., on Sat., May 7, 2022, with a blockbuster championship doubleheader. Headlining the pay-per-view (PPV) event will be Lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira, seeking to defend his title against No. 1-ranked contender, Justin Gaethje. In UFC 274’s co-main event, women’s Strawweight champion, Rose Namajunas, looks to avenge her loss against No. 2-seeded, Carla Esparza. And top-ranked Lightweight contenders collide when Michael Chandler (No. 5) locks horns with Tony Ferguson (No. 7) in a fan-friendly 155-pound clash for the ages.
Here’s the updated list:
Gina Mazany
Dean Barry
Kevin Croom
Cameron Else
Micheal Gillmore
Mike Grundy
Austin Hubbard
Brandon Jenkins
Kris Moutinho
Rong Zhu
Devonte Smith
Bruno Souza
Jesse Strader
Mark Striegl
Kazula Vargas
Luigi Vendramini
Fares Ziam
Ike Villanueva
“I’ll be back baby, I’m only getting better and I’m in love with this journey I’m on,” Strader wrote on social media.
It’s important to note that a majority of fighters removed from the UFC roster have completed their contracts but for varying reasons were not re-signed. Typically, a combatant who performs poorly over an extended period of time will be released to pursue other opportunities.
In related news, the UFC roster added Fernie Garcia, Kleydson Rodrigues, and Cameron VanCamp on May 3.