A total of 13 fighters were released from their contracts with UFC yesterday, becoming free agents.
The two biggest names on the list are without a doubt the former Invicta champion and UFC title challenger Tonya Evinger (18-9), along with lightweight Mairbek Taisumov (27-6).
The following are no longer part of the UFC roster:
Dong Hyun Ma, Chance Rencountre, Matthew Lopez, Cyril Asker, Khalid Murtazaliev, Talita Bernardo, Jodie Esquibel, Kyle Prepolec, Marcos Mariano, Isabela de Padua, and Zhenhong Lu.
The majority of those fighters were on losing streak and obviously the company didn’t see any point in resigning them. Khalid Murtazaliev and Isabela de Padua were on lengthy USADA suspensions due to failed drug tests last year.
The biggest shocker is the release of the 31-year-old Mairbek Taisumov.
Mistakes have the power to turn you into something better than you were before 💯 #Taisumov #WinOrLose #Alhamdulillah #SeeYouSoon #Thankful pic.twitter.com/dF0pqU6Cka
— Mairbek Taisumov (@Taisumov155) September 15, 2019
The Russian made his UFC debut in 2014 and he had a 7-2 record under the organization’s banner. The only knock on Taisumov all these years has been his inability to get a US visa. All of his UFC bouts have come on international events, which also hindered his chances of facing top-ranked opponents.