UFC has made headlines again following the release of twelve fighters, including the notable exit of Ovince Saint Preux, a former world-title contender. This decision comes as the promotion approaches the conclusion of Season 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series, a programme that has established itself as a primary pathway for emerging fighters trying to break into the prestigious UFC roster.
The cuts occurred between October 7 and 9, with several veteran fighters finding themselves on the chopping block, seemingly to make way for the incoming talent from the Contender Series. The fighters affected by this roster shake-up included:
- Kleydson Rodrigues
- Ovince Saint Preux
- Karl Williams
- Victor Altamirano
- Da Woon Jung
- Kay Kruschewsky
- Brianna Fortino
- Victoria Leonardo
- Danyelle Wolf
- Jarno Errens
- Ricky Glenn
- Brian Kelleher
Among these cuts, Brian Kelleher and Ovince Saint Preux stand out as particularly significant losses for the organisation. Kelleher, aged 38, holds a professional mixed martial arts record of 24 wins and 16 losses. Unfortunately, he suffered four consecutive losses, each by stoppage, suggesting a decline in performance. His most recent defeat came in July 2024 against Cody Gibson, who won via submission.
Since making his UFC debut in 2017 at UFC 212, where he scored a submission victory over Iuri Alcantara, Kelleher reached a peak ranking of No. 15 in the bantamweight division. However, given his age and recent form, the UFC‘s decision to part ways with him was perhaps inevitable.
Meanwhile, Ovince Saint Preux, who is 41 years old, received his release just two days following a first-round submission loss to Ryan Spann at UFC 307 on October 5. Completing his UFC chapter with a record of 15 wins and 13 losses, Saint Preux was once viewed as one of the premier light heavyweights globally. He famously challenged Jon Jones for the interim light heavyweight championship in April 2016 but fell short in that bout, losing via unanimous decision.
Over his career, Saint Preux has made contributions to both the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, scoring notable victories against fighters such as Gian Villante and Shogun Rua.
The Dana White’s Contender Series has already awarded contracts to 38 new fighters ahead of the season finale, which is set to increase the influx of fresh talent into the organisation. This season has seen notable additions such as Artem Vakhitov, a former kickboxer with a victory over current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, and the explosive Brazilian heavyweight Talisson Teixeira.
As the UFC continues to evolve and shape its roster, this latest round of cuts highlights the promotion’s unwavering commitment to refreshing its line-up, as they increasingly seek to pave the way for new talent from the ever-popular Contender Series.
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