UFC cuts Elias Theodorou, three others

The UFC has made a number of roster cuts, and one of the promotion’s top-ranked middleweight fighters is among the fighters on the chopping block.

According to Raphael Mariano from Globo, the UFC has parted ways with several athletes, including former “Ultimate Fighter” winner Elias Theodorou, who was the No. 15-ranked middleweight. The decision to cut Theodorou is shocking considering he was the co-main event of a UFC Fight Night card in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada earlier this month. He also had a solid 8-3 record in the Octagon. But he lost a lackluster decision in that fight and was even booed by the Canadian fans for “running” away from the action. The UFC matchmakers have seemingly decided to cut him as a result.

The report states that Theodorou was not the only ranked fighter to receive his walking papers. Along with Theodorou, the UFC has also released Wilson Reis, who was one of the top flyweights in the world. Reis was coming off of a TKO loss to Alexandre Pantoja and has lost four of his last five fights, and with the flyweight division being slowly dissolved he was next to go. He was one of the top-15 flyweights in the UFC rankings before being cut.

Also cut according to the report is heavyweight Marcelo Golm, who went 1-3 in the promotion. Considering how shallow the heavyweight division is, it was surprising to see Golm released, but his record didn’t justify a UFC roster spot. As well, another flyweight in Eric Shelton was cut. Shelton went just 2-4 overall in the UFC and with the flyweights being slowly released his record didn’t seem to justify a roster spot.

It’s likely the UFC has released other fighters, but we don’t know who they are yet. If there were other cuts, we are sure to hear their names in the coming days as the UFC cuts a number of fighters from the roster in preparation for Contender Series fighters to take their spots.

Are you surprised to learn Elias Theodorou has been released from the UFC?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 5/26/2019.