The UFC has once again trimmed its roster.
Four fighters have parted ways with the promotion after recently losses, MMA Junkie has confirmed through people with knowledge of the situation.
With Dana White’s Contender Series, and the influx of UFC signings that comes with it, right around the corner, it’s possible the promotion is adjusting its numbers in anticipation.
Check out the recent UFC departures below. The roster moves, unless explicitly noted, are not necessarily a “release.” The UFC may have elected not to re-sign certain fighters who were at the end of their contracts.
Ryan Benoit
Age: 31
Record: 10-8 MMA
UFC record: 3-6 UFC
Ryan Benoit joined the promotion in late 2013 and won his debut vs. Josh Sampo. Throughout the next eight years, he would compete intermittently as he ran into a handful of delays and cancellations, some due to injury. Benoit’s highest-profile win perhaps came against Sergio Pettis, when he won by second-round TKO. The promotion parted ways with Benoit after four losses in five fights. He most recently competed July 31 when he fought with a broken leg for over two rounds in a unanimous decision loss to Zarrukh Adashev.
MMA Junkie confirmed Ryan Benoit’s departure with a person close to the situation.
Yancy Medeiros
Age: 33
Record: 15-8 MMA
UFC record: 6-8 UFC (1 NC)
A fan-favorite, Yancy Medeiros was on the roster since 2013. He competed against a who’s who of welterweights and lightweights, and even headlined a UFC Fight Night card against Donald Cerrone in February 2018. Over the span of his 15-fight tenure, Medeiros picked up wins against John Makdessi, Alex Oliveira, and Damon Jackson among others. He exits the UFC on a four-fight losing skid.
Yancy Medeiros’ UFC departure was first reported by MMA Fighting.
Justin Jaynes
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 26: (R-L) Justin Jaynes punches Charles Rosa in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on June 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Age: 32
Record: 16-8 MMA
UFC record: 1-4 UFC
A member of Xtreme Couture, Justin Jaynes took advantage of a short-notice opportunity to get his foot in the UFC’s door. Days after he signed on for his UFC debut, he defeated Frank Camacho via first-round knockout. The victory would be his lone win with the promotion. In the span of the next 12 months, Jaynes competed four more times but lost them all. He was cut by the UFC on his 32nd birthday, according to his coach Eric Nicksick.
Jerome Rivera
Jerome Rivera
Age: 26
Record: 10-6 MMA
UFC record: 0-4 UFC
From September 2020 to July 2021, Jerome Rivera compete four times under the UFC banner – in three different weight classes. A winner on Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 4, Rivera was not offered a UFC deal until weeks later. Prior to his UFC exit, he suffered losses to Tyson Nam, Francisco Figueiredo, Ode Osbourne, and Zhalgas Zhumagulov.
Jerome Rivera’s UFC departure was first reported by MMA Fighting.