Dana White (Photograph by Amy Kaplan/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)
The UFC might need simply had its final roster deduction of 2024. Since December 4, the promotion has been eradicating fighters from its roster for one motive or one other.
Most lately, the UFC lower ties with Jared Gooden and Abu Azaitar.
Within the ultimate month of the yr, the UFC has additionally eliminated Gabriel Benitez, Jack Shore, Stipe Miocic, and Damon Jackson from its roster.
Shore, Miocic and Jackson have been eliminated as a result of they retired. Benitez, 36, has misplaced two fights in a row and three of his final 4.
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 15: Crew Velasquez fighter Gabriel Benitez poses for a portrait on media day … [+] throughout filming of The Final Fighter Latin America on Could 15, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC through Getty Pictures)
He’s additionally missed weight twice in his UFC profession, each instances occurring within the final 4 years. Benitez had little or no likelihood to make a mark within the UFC, and all issues thought-about, it is sensible for the promotion to maneuver on from him.
Benitez hasn’t fought since he dropped a cut up determination to Maheshate Hayisaer in April.
Miocic and Jackson’s final fights have been at UFC 309. They have been each completed by UFC legends. Jim Miller submitted Jackson within the first spherical in a bounce-back efficiency after he was pummeled by Bobby Inexperienced at UFC 300 in April.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 14: Damon Jackson put together sto battle Dan Ige in a featherweight battle … [+] in the course of the UFC Struggle Night time occasion at UFC APEX on January 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC through Getty Pictures)
Jackson’s profession ended with losses in 4 of his final 5 fights. Miller has been just like the executioner for getting old fighters in his weight area. Previous to Benitez’s loss to Hayisaer, he was additionally submitted by Miller.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 16: Stipe Miocic of america of America seems to be on after his … [+] loss to Jon Jones of america of America within the UFC heavyweight championship battle in the course of the UFC 309 occasion at Madison Sq. Backyard on November 16, 2024 in New York Metropolis. (Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Miocic was destroyed by Jon Jones in the primary occasion of UFC 309. Predictably, he referred to as it a profession after the battle.
Shore’s retirement was a shock to most. He’s solely 29, and regardless of having hit a two-fight shedding streak, his skilled document was nonetheless a glowing 17-3. As lately as 2022, Shore was thought-about one of many high rising featherweights within the promotion.
EDMONTON, ALBERTA – NOVEMBER 01: Jack Shore of Wales poses on the dimensions in the course of the UFC Struggle Night time … [+] ceremonial weigh-in at Rogers Place on November 01, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Shore cited a diminished love and motivation for competing as his motive for retiring. He plans to focus all of his consideration on teaching.
Gooden and Azaitar’s conditions have been completely different from Miocic, Shore, and Jackson. They haven’t introduced their retirements. Gooden, 31, misplaced his final battle towards Chidi Njokuani and missed weight by 1.5 kilos.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – MAY 08: Jared Gooden poses for a portrait throughout a UFC picture session on Could … [+] 8, 2024 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photograph by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC through Getty Pictures)
Gooden has missed weight 3 times with the UFC, together with twice previously two years.
Azaitar’s inactivity, losses, and age doubtless performed a job in his removing from the UFC roster. After battling his technique to the UFC in 2018, Azaitar received his promotional debut through unanimous determination over Vitor Miranda.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 20: Abu Azaitar of Germany poses on the dimensions in the course of the … [+] UFC 294 ceremonial weigh-in at Etihad Area on October 20, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC through Getty Pictures)
The German by the use of Morocco was inactive from July 2018 till 2020 when he had fights scheduled towards Alessio Di Chirico and Joaquin Buckley. Nevertheless, Azaitar withdrew from each fights.
Azaitar additionally tested positive for tamoxifen and/or tamoxifen metabolite 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-tamoxifen as the results of urine samples collected on August 25, 2020, September 4, 2020, September 9, 2020, and September 17, 2020. The optimistic exams led to a seven-month suspension, which allowed him to battle in March 2021, the place he was defeated by Marc-Andre Barriault through third-round TKO.
Azaitar didn’t battle once more till October 2023 when he misplaced a unanimous determination to Sedriques Dumas. Azaitar was scheduled to return in June towards Denis Tiuliulin, however he withdrew from the battle.
At 38, Azaitar could possibly be on the finish of his profession as a combined martial artist.
The UFC has constantly made room for brand new expertise on its roster, and all through the upcoming yr, we’ll generally see fighters preventing for his or her spot on the roster—particularly if they’re on the finish of their contracts.
