– Thales Leites (14-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) has been released from his UFC contract. Leites was the top middleweight contender just four months ago, but after a “lackluster” unanimous-decision loss to Silva at UFC 97 and a loss via split decision at UFC 101, he is now gone.
Tamdan McCrory has also been cut from his UFC contract. The Barncat is 11-3 overall, but only holds a UFC record of 3-3 with the loss he suffered at UFC 101. McCrory is a victim of the UFC freshening up their roster with roughly 20 Affliction fighters, as well as the usual mid-level talent pruning.
Also released following UFC 101 losses were Dan Cramer, George Roop and Danillo Villefort.
