UFC Cuts Promising Young Fighter, Fans Sound Off

The UFC has recently let go of multiple fighters, and the departure of 24-year-old Brazilian flyweight Felipe dos Santos sparked reactions from informed MMA fans.

Dos Santos had demonstrated glimpses of genuine potential. He made his UFC debut on short notice against top flyweight contender Manel Kape at UFC 293 in Sydney.

UFC Roster Tracker shared the news.

Another labeled the move simply as "unfair." A third remarked: "Check out who's just been signed. And they’ve released FDS, shocking." Another highlighted dos Santos' bout with Kape: "watched his fight live in Sydney against Kape, kid is too good to be cut, real potential."

The fight became a thrilling back-and-forth battle, earning both competitors Fight of the Night honors. Although he lost via unanimous decision, dos Santos earned considerable respect for his performance. Later, he secured a split-decision victory over Victor Altamirano in February but then suffered consecutive losses to Andre Lima and Lone’er Kavanagh by unanimous decision.

Releasing dos Santos seems premature considering his standout Fight-of-the-Night loss in his UFC debut versus top-ranked fighter Manel Kape in September 2023. He rebounded with a split-decision win over Victor Altamirano in February 2024.

Regrettably, he went on to lose his next two fights—both via unanimous decision—to Andre Lima in September 2024 and Kavanagh in March.

Although releasing dos Santos might seem rushed, there could be reasoning behind it. At just 24 years old, rather than risk him accumulating more narrow defeats against more seasoned opponents, the UFC may have decided that letting him compete in LFA or other regional organizations would give him the chance to gain more experience.

It appears the UFC still sees potential in dos Santos, as he had two previously canceled DWCS bouts in 2023 before getting the last-minute opportunity to face Kape. This release seems like a temporary break. If dos Santos secures a few wins elsewhere, he’ll likely get another shot in the Octagon.

According to Tapology, dos Santos currently doesn’t have any scheduled fights with other promotions. However, it wouldn't be surprising if an announcement comes soon. The UFC also parted ways with Ange Loosa, Matt Brown (officially), Jordan Vucenic, Viviane Araujo, and Trevin Giles.

What 's Next For the UFC?

MMA’s premier organization heads to Nashville on July 12 for a heavyweight headliner that could produce the next big name in the division. Undefeated 25-year-old Brazilian heavyweight Tallison Teixeira faces the toughest challenge yet in his eight-fight career.

Ranked No. 13, this finisher extraordinaire will square off against No. 9 Derrick Lewis. Should Teixeira come out victorious, he'll crack the top 10 and potentially be just two wins away from a title shot. A loss, however, could significantly hinder his career trajectory. Regardless, most anticipate a finish in this matchup. Here’s a look at the full card and viewing details.

Main Card (ESPN / ESPN – 9:00 PM ET)

• Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira – Heavyweight
• Stephen Thompson vs. Gabriel Bonfim – Welterweight
• Calvin Kattar vs. Steve Garcia – Featherweight
• Nate Landwehr vs. Morgan Charrière – Featherweight
• Vitor Petrino vs. Austen Lane – Heavyweight
• Junior Tafa vs. Tuco Tokkos – Light Heavyweight

Preliminary Card (ESPN / ESPN – 6:00 PM ET)

• Max Griffin vs. Chris Curtis – Welterweight
• Jake Matthews vs. Chidi Njokuani – Welterweight
• Lauren Murphy vs. Eduarda Moura – Women’s Flyweight
• Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Valter Walker – Heavyweight
• Mitch Ramirez vs. Mike Davis – Lightweight
• Fatima Kline vs. Melissa Martinez – Women’s Strawweight

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