News UFC cuts 4 fighters....

[SaltedVinegarfootstomps]

Slava was supposed to be a striker but got folded by Chase Hooper in the stand-up. A bizarre representative from Alpha Male

 

[ssBaldy]

The roster is bloated. Keep the best, cut the rest.

 

[SaltedVinegarfootstomps]

Good to see they're keeping Brazilian knocked out artist Raffael Cerqueira

Hey to be fair hes finding new ways to lose beyond getting slept. I for one can't wait to see him lose via DQ next

 

[Tito Tapped]

These match makers really have no idea what they're doing with HW do they? How the hell does a 1-6 HW last this long on the roster without being cut? Mean while they cut better guys after 1-2 losses. What a clown show.

Because there are other factors. Maybe he was easy to work with, took fights on short notice, had something negotiated we aren't privy to, was owed something, or any number of reasons (by the way I don't even know who we're talking about this is just fodder.)

 

[DougieJones]

wow, just in time for the holidays. Niiiiiice

Merry Cut-Mas! UFC releases four fighters in latest roster purge, including ‘Slava Claus’​

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has trimmed its expansive mixed martial arts (MMA) roster just days before Christmas. Today (Tues., Dec. 16, 2025), Sherdog reporter, Tom Freely, revealed that five fighters have been removed from UFC’s active roster, meaning they have been released from their respective contracts and/or the promotion decided not to extend them.

Ricardo Ramos, Viacheslav Borshchev, Lukasz Brzeski, Marcin Prachnio and Yusaku Kinoshita are the five fighters who lost their spots on UFC’s active roster this time around.

Of the group, Ramos (17-8) logged the most Octagon appearances with 15 bouts. “Carcacinha” burst onto the UFC scene with three straight wins but struggled to maintain momentum thereafter. Still, he delivered memorable moments, scoring two spinning back-elbow knockouts that earned him $50,000 performance bonuses each time. Ramos exits the promotion with an 8-7 UFC record, riding a two-fight losing streak.

Borshchev (8-7-1) entered the UFC as a decorated kickboxer after a highlight-reel knockout on Contender Series. Though consistently entertaining — earning three Performance of the Night bonuses — “Slava Claus” struggled to translate excitement into wins. He departs the promotion with a 3-6-1 record and a three-fight skid.

Prachnio (17-9) endured a disastrous start to his UFC tenure, dropping his first three fights by first-round stoppage. He rebounded late in his run, scoring a notable upset over Khalil Rountree Jr. and following it up with a body-kick TKO. However, inconsistency plagued him, as he lost four of his final six bouts. Prachnio leaves the UFC at 4-7, also on a two-fight losing streak.

Brzeski (9-7-1) managed just one UFC victory — a notable unanimous decision over now-ranked heavyweight Valter Walker in Walker’s promotional debut. Outside of that win, his UFC run was rocky, suffering four first-round losses. Complicating matters further, his Contender Series victory was later overturned to a no contest following a failed drug test. “The Bull” exits the UFC with a 1-6 record and three straight losses.

Finally, Kinoshita (6-3) arrived with considerable hype after his Contender Series appearance but failed to meet expectations. The Japanese prospect lost both of his UFC bouts by first-round stoppage, including his debut as a heavy betting favorite. At just 25 years old, however, “Wonderboy” still has time to rebuild and could find his way back to the promotion with success on the regional scene.

 

[TCE]

Ramos had two nice spinning back elbow KOs in the UFC, aside from that, I can't remember much of him.

 

[Young Calf Kick]

my sleep deprived ass read this as "UFC cuts 4 fingers" at first and thought they finally stuck to their scumbag mob roots out in the open

 

[IDGETKTFO]

Have a Merry Christmas ya bums - Dana White

rum ba bum bum

 

[Ares Black]

I'm a little bummed about Slava Claus, but not surprised. A super fun fighter if he could keep it standing. Unfortunately he couldn't.

 

[Kwic]

They didn't unlock the legendary Polish Power in time.

 

[Deceasedxo]

I'm glad Slavaclaus is gone, he sucked.

 

[BigTruck]

Yeah, I honestly don't know what they see in that scumbag - he's a terrible fighter and an awful criminal.

Got to be that they think people will tune in to see him lose and he's cheap to keep.

 

[TITS]

These match makers really have no idea what they're doing with HW do they? How the hell does a 1-6 HW last this long on the roster without being cut? Mean while they cut better guys after 1-2 losses. What a clown show.

Austen Lane is still on the roster, I believe.

 

[Prince Nephilim]

These match makers really have no idea what they're doing with HW do they? How the hell does a 1-6 HW last this long on the roster without being cut? Mean while they cut better guys after 1-2 losses. What a clown show.

Lots of betting money to made off him. UFC knows all about odds

 

[Private Whatley]

Yeah, I honestly don't know what they see in that scumbag - he's a terrible fighter and an awful criminal.

He’s probably willing to fight on a moment’s notice at a heavy discount. That’s the only plausible explanation. He also fought on the infamous Isaac Dulgarian Fight Night where he rather abruptly melted in the second and barely defended the submission. It’s rather telling that his performance slipped under the radar because the prevailing logic was likely, “yea, but he also just kinda sucks so maybe it’s not weird?”

 

[Private Whatley]

Austen Lane is still on the roster, I believe.

He’s a big guy with an NFL connection and some cachet in Jacksonville where the UFC annually holds events. If you’re a big guy willing to fight for cheap who at one point possessed the physical attributes to hold an NFL roster spot, however briefly, the UFC will cut you some slack.

 

[gentel]

Sad for Slava Claus but his best days of fighting are solidly behind him so the cut does make sense

 

[Mr. Snrub]

I consider Slava Claus vs Sadykhov as one of the greatest MMA fights of all time. JBG approved and had a charming post fight moment.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Can't believe they're keeping Dumas.

Are you kidding me? They probably pray that half their roster becomes Dumas, paid in commissary.

 

[Ares Black]

According to Wikipedia, 4 fighters have been released by the UFC, they are.....


Vyacheslav Borschev - 'Slava Claus' is a very fun fighter, but ultimately you have to win some fights and an overall 8-7-1 record is pretty fucking putrid. No issues with this cut.

Lukasz Brzeski - again, 9-7-1 is awful and the heavyweight has a UFC record of 1-6 which must be a world-beating record? Bizarrely, his only win came against the currently hot streaking Valter Walker.

Marcin Prachnio - I was surprised to see the light-heavyweight has a 4-7 UFC record, as I don't recall him winning that many fights to be honest.

Ricardo Ramos - the featherweight had a 8-7 UFC record and was seemingly around forever without achieving much. I vaguely remember him scoring a stunning spinning backfist or elbow KO at one point but not much else.


All fine cuts IMO, I expect another big cull in the new year.

https://bloodyelbow.com/2025/12/17/ufc-cuts-six-fighters-including-veteran-who-beat-a-former-title-challenger-and-november-debutant/

This article says that Yasuku Kinoshita and Marek Bujlo were also cut.