UFC Releases Another Fighter for Missing Weight Despite Winning Record

The weight miss occurred just hours before the event was set to commence in Chicago. Battle, who was supposed to compete at middleweight (186 pounds with the one-pound allowance), stepped on the scale at 190 pounds. 

The bout was planned to proceed as a catchweight contest with Battle forfeiting 30 percent of his purse, but the promotion ultimately decided to cancel the fight entirely. This decision now appears to have been a precursor to his release. 

Winning The Ultimate Fighter 29 as a middleweight, Battle dropped down to the welterweight division, where he first began to struggle severely on the scale.

His previous fight, a split decision win over Randy Brown in December, saw him weigh in at 175 pounds, five pounds over the welterweight limit. 

This latest weight miss at middleweight, a division he had returned to avoid such issues, proved to be the final straw for the UFC brass, as it marked his third documented weight miss in the organization. 

Despite these troubles on the scale, Battle has had undeniable success inside the octagon. With a strong winning professional record of 12-2 (7 wins, 1 loss, and 1 no contest in the UFC), Battle had an exciting fighting style and proven ability to win fights. 

Before news of his release, Battle even apologized to his would-be opponent, Nursulton Ruziboev, in a video that showed a sincerely apologetic Battle talking to Ruziboev with the intention and desire to make things right. He even verbally agreed to Ruziboev’s suggestion to fight on an Abu Dhabi UFC card later this year. 

He also appeared on The Ariel Helwani show to explain his conversation with Ruziboev, taking full accountability for his weight miss.

“I can’t get mad at him. That’s on me. I had to take full responsibility for that or else there’s no way to adjust, roll, and get better from that,” he told Helwani. “That’s really out of my hands. We’ll see if I still have a job in a little bit.” 

Based on that last sentence, it's evident that Battle understood what the possible consequences of his weight miss were.

Watch the full interview here:

It seems that this public plea was not enough to save his spot on the roster, as the UFC had already made its decision final.

Battle’s departure leaves a talented fighter on the free-agent market. It is still possible that he returns to the UFC, but for now, he may have to see what other promotions will take him on their roster in the meantime.