After more than a dozen fights inside the Octagon, TUF 15’s Daron Cruickshank has been handed his UFC pink slip following a dramatic submission loss at UFC Boston two months ago. The 30-year-old lightweight striker confirmed the news to fans on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon.
I’ve officially been released. It’s been a pleasure and privilege to fight for the UFC. I am now currently looking for a fight elsewhere.
— Daron Cruickshank (@Cruickshank155) March 1, 2016
Cruickshank (16-8, 1 NC) is without a win in his last 4 bouts, having gone to a no-contest against K.J. Noons before losing three straight fights to Beneil Dariush, James Krause, and Paul Felder, all by rear-naked choke. “The Detroit Superstar” departs from the UFC with a record of 6-6 (1 NC), with the highlight win of his career coming via 1st round knockout against Erik Koch back in 2014. Cruickshank also scored a wheel kick knockout against Mike Rio in the fight preceding the Koch win.
Daron is one of three fighters whose UFC release has been confirmed within the past several days. On Saturday, Canadian welterweight Matt Dwyer announced the end of his tenure with the promotion.
I’m sorry to announce that I have been released by the #UFC Thank you everyone who has supported me! I’ll be back
— Matt Dwyer (@MattDwyerMMA) February 27, 2016
The 26-year-old Dwyer (8-4) leaves with a 1-3 record, having last competed in January at UFC on FOX 18 in New Jersey, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Randy Brown. His debut ended with a rough head kick KO loss to Albert Tumenov, but he rebounded nicely with a superman punch finish of William Macario in Brazil. A FOTN performance against Alan Jouban last May ended in a unanimous decision defeat. Dwyer will return to action on April 22nd against Derek Medler in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Also gone is welterweight Gasan Umalatov, as reported by Bloody Elbow’s Karim Zidan on Monday. Umalatov (15-5-1) debuted at UFC 169 in February 2014, losing a unanimous decision to current welterweight contender Neil Magny. The 33-year-old picked up his only UFC win that May, beating Paulo Thiago in Brazil. Consecutive losses to Cathal Pendred (by split decision) and Viscardi Andrade (by unanimous decision) dropped him to 1-3, and out of the UFC. Umalatov will fight in Russia later this year.
We’ll keep you to date on any more UFC roster cuts that roll in as the week progresses.
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