Dana White can be brutal when it comes to making roster cuts. Last year, he refused to re-sign Muhammad Mokaev after citing that the matchmakers weren’t happy with the “way he acted.” While the Dagestani prospect has contradicted some of White’s claims and allegedly remains in talks over a return, he remains away from the UFC for the moment. Meanwhile, in December, White and Co. culled six names from its roster in a sweep with names like  Gabriel Benitez, Jared Gooden, and Abu Azaitar being let go. We also saw UFC ruthlessly remove Jairzinoh Rozenstruik and  Jamal Pogues hours after UFC Saudi Arabia earlier this month and the axe hasn’t stopped falling.

The promotion has already released several notable fighters, including MMA legend Tony Ferguson and former middleweight champion Chris Weidman, but as February comes to a close and the fans look ahead to UFC 313—headlined by Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev—the promotion has once again slashed six names from the roster, including veterans with winning records and a bantamweight with an impressive record.

Sherdog’s Tom Feely updated on X that as of Wednesday, Cody Stamann, Julio Arce, Josh Culibao, Taylor Lapilus, Jonathan Pearce, and Kleydson Rodrigues are no longer part of the UFC roster. Typically, officials remove retired fighters from the roster, but this recent wave of cuts includes fighters in their early to mid-30s, with 35-year-old Cody Stamann being the most experienced.

 Throughout his UFC career, Stamann competed across the featherweight and bantamweight divisions in 15 fights after making his debut in 2017. He has shared the Octagon with current champion Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, among others. Stamann achieved a career-high ranking of No. 9 in the bantamweight division, after securing victories in four of his first five bouts.

However, defeats to Sterling, Jimmie Rivera, and Merab Dvalishvili pushed him down the pecking order. His recent saw him lose three consecutive fights to Douglas Silva de Andrade, Taylor Lapilus, and Da’Mon Blackshear. Last year, Stamann showed his commitment by cutting short his honeymoon in 2024 to participate in what is now his final UFC fight- a first-round submission loss to Blackshear. His UFC tenure ends with a 7-7-1 record.

Another name that hit the chopping block was Julio Arce, who was signed to the promotion after Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017. His last fight came in March 2024, when he defeated Herbert Burns by knockout and ended his UFC tenure with a 6-4 record. Meanwhile, one surprising name released was bantamweight Taylor Lapilus.

Lapilus had fought his way back to the UFC in 2023 after being initially cut from the roster in 2015 following a winning 3-1 record. Yet, after another 3-1 run, he finds himself out of the door. This move surprised BJ Penn’s Josh Evanoff, who took to X to voice his displeasure, writing, “Taylor Lapilus is a horrifically bad cut. Jesus.”

Lapilus announced his UFC return with a win over Caolan Loughran at UFC Paris, but it looks like despite an overall 21-4 record, he could not convince Dana White and others of a lengthy run. If one has to speculate, it might have come down to the fact that all four of his fights went to decision during his second stint.

Then we have Josh Culibao, who went from a three-match winning streak to defeats in his last three fights. His last fight came at UFC 305 in Sydney, Australia, where he lost to Ricardo Ramos. His UFC record now reads 3-4-1. “JSP” Jonathan Pierce, who was also let go, started out his UFC career in impressive fashion,  winning five out of his first six fights. However, his career nosedived after that as he lost three fights in a row and has been winless since 2022 and finishes with a 5-4 record in UFC.

Kleydosn Rodrigues, 29, was the last name on the list of released fighters. During his UFC tenure, he twice missed weight and had a sole win after a 59-second KO of Shannon Ross at UFC 284. The Brazilian suffered three losses, including two defeats in a row. Notably, these roster cuts come hours after Dana White confirmed Justin Gaethje’s opponent for UFC 313, following Dan Hooker’s withdrawal due to a hand injury.

White announced that Rafael Fiziev will step up for a rematch with Gaethje for the event in Las Vegas on March 8. The two fought in 2023 when Gaethje won via majority decision at UFC 286 in London. Despite, this major announcement, the mood might have been dulled for some UFC fans after the recent firings.

So, why is the UFC making so many cuts lately? The prevailing belief is that it’s due to inactivity, underperforming in the cage, or failing to capture fans’ attention. Fighters who don’t live up to expectations—whether in performance or entertainment value—often find themselves released.

That raises the question: Is there a path back for these fighters? Can they prove themselves and earn another shot in the UFC? Let’s hear what Muhammad Mokaev has to say.

Muhammad Mokaev challenges Dana White’s claim and hints at his future in the UFC

“It is what it is. He’s a guy who made all the wrong moves and pissed off the wrong people. I wasn’t involved in any of the issues with him.” With those words, Dana White solidified his position on not re-signing Muhammad Mokaev last year, emphasizing that he had no role in extending ‘The Punisher’s UFC contract. White placed the responsibility on the UFC’s top brass—Hunter Campbell, Sean Shelby, and Mick Maynard—stating, “They weren’t happy with him,” during a media press conference.

White further pointed to the Dagestani prospect himself as the one who hurt his own chances, referencing the altercation between Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape at the UFC PI Institute, as well as another incident at the UFC’s Manchester hotel. However, the 125fer offered a different take on the matter.

In an interview with Vestnik MMA on YouTube, Mokaev explained, “I have a good relationship with Hunter—very normal and positive. Even after the tournament, he reached out to me. We’ll have a call and discuss things further; we’ll see how my career progresses.”

Moreover, Mokaev didn’t stop there. He aimed Dana White’s comments and shed light on his ongoing negotiations with the UFC. “I’m in talks with the UFC right now. Dana just doesn’t follow all the events. He mentioned this in an interview based on old information. Hunter Campbell and I are in touch, and good news is coming soon,” ‘The Punisher’said.

It remains to be seen if and when Mokaev makes his return and what will Dana White make of it. For now, UFC has undergone another round of roster cuts as they look to build steam ahead of their next big event. Will we see any of the departed names make a return in the near future?