Bryan has lost the Battle.
Just five days after missing weight by four pounds and causing the cancelation of his UFC 319 fight, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 29 winner and Welterweight prospect, Bryan Battle, has been released from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
The unfortunate news was first reported by social media account UFC Roster Watch.
Battle’s release comes as a surprise given his strong Octagon resume. The 30-year-old North Carolina native went 7-1 during his UFC tenure, earning four stoppages,
three “Performance of the Night” bonuses, and one of the most memorable post-fight interviews in recent years after knocking out Kevin Jousset in Paris (watch it below).
His only loss came to Rinat Fakhretdinov.
Still, weight management issues plagued his run. Battle missed the scale three times under UFC’s banner, including two egregious misses. While he deflected blame after one failed cut at UFC 310, he was more forthcoming following last week’s disaster, admitting his body may no longer handle the cut as easily and even saying he would understand if the promotion cut ties.
Now, it has.
Despite the setback, Battle remains young and has options. He could regroup on the regional scene, rack up a few wins, and make a UFC return. Or, he could test free agency and pursue the $500,000 season prize in Professional Fighters League (PFL).
For now, UFC fans will remember him as a TUF champion who brought grit, finishes and some unforgettable moments inside the cage.
So long, “Butcher.” Thanks for the memories.
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