Bryan Battle, nicknamed “The Butcher“, is now free from UFC after once again missing weight for the second consecutive occasion, and on this occasion, even his UFC 319 fight was cancelled. Only days later did the promotion announce his release.
From TUF Winner to UFC Release
Battle entered UFC after defeating The Ultimate Fighter Season 29 in 2021. He appeared to be one promising prospect, picking up victories and putting together a 7–1 record with one no contest. But his career began to deteriorate due to issues cutting down to the required weight.
- In May 2023, he weighed in at 173 lbs welterweight, which is above the weight. The fight proceeded at catchweight; he was penalized, but he achieved a 14-second knockout.
- In December 2024, he fell short again by 4 lbs to Randy Brown. He received a 30% purse deduction but still emerged victorious via split decision.
UFC 319 Weigh-In Fallout
At UFC 319 in Chicago, Battle attempted to cut to middleweight. However, he weighed in at 190 lbs, 4 pounds above the 186-lb non-title threshold. Initially, it was altered to catchweight with another fine of 30%, but later UFC cancelled the fight entirely. It became the third fight cancelled near event week, contributing more issues to the card.
UFC Confirms Release
On 20th August 2025, UFC officially announced that they released Bryan Battle. The news spread like fire in the media, and it was also included on the list of changes for 2025. Due to so many misses in weight, the promotion concluded that no more opportunities were available for him.
Battle’s Response
Prior to the official ruling, Battle already discussed the miss. He confessed that he overestimated the impact of changing weight classes and that his body was no longer responding the same way. He also took responsibility and told him he doesn’t deserve to remain. He even mentioned perhaps rebooking at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi but that window is now closed.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| UFC Record | 7–1 (1 NC) |
| Weight Misses | May 2023, Dec 2024, Aug 2025 |
| Final Bout | Scheduled vs Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC 319 |
| Release Date | August 20, 2025 |
| Future Options | Possible move to promotions like PFL or Oktagon |
Conclusion
Bryan Battle’s release demonstrates once more how tough the UFC are on weight. Despite having a good record and TUF victory, his repeated failures left the promotion with no option. His future will now hinge on whether he can fix this issue and rekindle the career in a different fight promotion.
