Bryan Battle has been released from the UFC following consecutive weight-cutting failures. The American fighter's contract was terminated after he missed weight for two straight bouts, with the announcement coming last Wednesday night.
The promotion's decision came after Battle exceeded the middleweight limit by four pounds for his scheduled fight against Nursulton Ruziboev, resulting in the bout's cancellation. A disappointing outcome for a fighter once considered one of the organization's promising prospects.
"Nine entries into the UFC octagon, six in the regional scene, and I've never missed weight, not once. Like a true professional," Randy Brown wrote on Instagram after Battle missed weight for their December clash. "Bryan knew he wasn't making weight from the day before, but still let me suffer through a weight cut."
Interestingly, despite coming in five pounds over the welterweight limit for that December fight against Brown, Battle actually won the contest. However, the victory did little to repair his damaged reputation among fans and UFC management.
The UFC had attempted to accommodate Battle's struggles by allowing him to move up to the middleweight division, where he had competed previously. This solution proved ineffective when he again failed to make weight, this time leaving Ruziboev without an opponent.
Battle leaves the premier MMA organization with a respectable record of seven wins, one loss, and one no-contest. However, his repeated unprofessional approach to one of the sport's fundamental obligations has cost him his place in the world's top MMA promotion.
Could Battle rebuild his career in another organization? That remains to be seen, but he'll certainly need to address his weight management issues before any major promotion considers signing him.
