The UFC is where every mixed martial artist wants to be. If you want to be recognized as a great MMA fighter, there is no other game in town. Bellator and PFL have some world-class fighters too. But it is telling that the most popular fighter in the entire PFL is Francis Ngannou, who earned all of his plaudits in the Dana White-led juggernaut. Ben Askren was probably the greatest champion in Bellator history. But he could scarcely even make a dent when he came to the UFC.

This is very similar to the case of Michael Chandler, another Bellator all-timer, who has a horrible 2-4 record in the TKO Holdings-owned organization. But trying and failing, as they say, is better than failing to try. The likes of Askren and Chandler tried and they failed. There’s no shame in that! But imagine you don’t even get the chance to try and make a name for yourself in the UFC, even after being signed to the promotion. That undoubtedly must hurt even more.

This is why we think Mashrabjon Ruziboev must be the saddest man in all of MMA. The Uzbek lightweight, brother of UFC welterweight Nursulton Ruziboev, was signed to the promotion just fourteen days ago. The 29-year-old was signed to face Jared Gordon on the February 15 UFC Vegas 102 card in a lightweight bout, although Ruziboev generally fights at welterweight. The Uzbek was roped in at four days’ notice, as a replacement for Kaue Fernandes.

And it did seem like the Fight Club Akhmat team member was a good signing. While Ruziboev has been fighting in regional promotions so far where he hasn’t exactly faced world-class competition, he was on a red-hot seven-fight win streak. Alas, the 29-year-old didn’t even fight Gordon on the card, as he pulled out of that fight at the very last minute due to unknown reasons.

And the UFC apparently, was rightfully incensed at Ruziboev’s withdrawal. The UFC has officially cut the Uzbek prospect from its roster after just fourteen days and a whopping zero fights.

It doesn’t get much worse than this for a mixed martial artist. Losing the opportunity to fight on the biggest stage in combat sports, then getting kicked out unceremoniously, perhaps with no chance to come back. But then again, the UFC has been pretty trigger-happy in 2025.

Dana White fires three legends on the same day

January 28 2025 is the day that will live in infamy for UFC fans. After all, three absolute legends of the game that included Tony Ferguson, Chris Weidman, and Alexander Gustaffson were cut from the promotion. Ferguson, of course, was one of the most beloved fighters in the entire promotion. He set fire to the UFC’s stacked lightweight division between 2013 and 2019 when he won twelve fights in a row.

Weidman, a former middleweight champion, while not as beloved, had the distinction of being the first man in the UFC to beat Anderson Silva. ‘The All-American’ snapped ‘The Spider’s sixteen-fight win streak and took away his fabled 185lbs title at UFC 162. And while Gustaffson never actually became champ like Weidman, or as loved by fans as ‘El Cucuy’, he had a banger of a fight with Jon Jones, the greatest of all time for many, in their UFC 165 clash almost a decade ago.

And if the UFC was willing to cut these legendary fighters, no one should really be surprised they let go of Mashrabjon Ruziboev. What do you think about the Uzbek fighter being shown the door without a single fight in the UFC?