Who of these former UFC fighters could get a second chance with the promotion in 2024?
It’s hard to make it to the UFC.
Thousands of professional fighters try every year – and most fail. For a small percentage, however, they sign their names on the dotted line to fight for the biggest MMA promotion in the world.
Sometimes the opportunity comes a bit too soon. Other times, they’re faced with difficult matchups that time proves were bigger challenges than originally anticipated.
When the pink slip comes and a fighter departs the promotion, there is often a phrase they hear on the way out: “Go get a few more wins, and the UFC will consider bringing you back.”
Easier said than done.
For the vast majority, they won’t be back. However, it’s not impossible. A number of fighters have done it over the years. Just look at former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno. He was released from the promotion, built his way back, became a contender, and then won a UFC title.
Current roster members Nicolas Dalby, Dustin Jacoby, Modestas Bukauskas, Kurt Holobaugh, Roosevelt Roberts, and Rhys McKee are among those who have reinforced the possibility.
With the new year upon us, here are 20 former UFC fighters who could return to the promotion in 2024.
Note: Fighters considered for this list had to have competed in at least one UFC bout.
Check out which veterans of the UFC are in combat sports action across the globe this weekend.
This week, the UFC returns to pay-per-view for UFC 291 in Salt Lake City.
The event at Delta Center features a lightweight rematch, this time for the BMF title, between [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] and [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag].
Elsewhere, many other combat sports events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.
Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA and bareknuckle boxing this week from July 28-30.
Check out the names and details about their bouts below.
Check out the 16 fighters who made the cut for “TUF 31” – including eight former UFC fighters.
“The Ultimate Fighter” is back for a 31st season, which will be coached by lightweight stars [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag].
Set to debut May 30 on ESPN and run until Aug. 15, the series will include men’s bantamweights and lightweights, as first reported on MMA Junkie’s “Spinning Back Clique.” Filming began in February in Las Vegas.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) and Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) will square off after the conclusion of the series at a date and location yet-to-be-determined.
In addition to an announcement of rosters Saturday, the promotion announced the upcoming season will have a theme of “Redemption,” which pins former UFC fighters against rising prospects.
Dozens of fighters applied and only 16 were selected. Scroll below to see who made the cut.
The UFC paid out just shy of $200,000 to the athletes at UFC Fight Night 203 under its Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay program.
LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 203 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $198,000.
The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.
UFC Fight Night 203 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.
The full UFC Fight Night 203 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2037 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2031 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.
In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.
Full 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
“UFC Fight Night 203: Santos vs. Ankalaev” – $198,000
Kris Moutinho will enter his second UFC fight in March hoping to show why he belongs on the biggest stage.
(This story first published at the Milford Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Network.)
FALL RIVER, Mass. – [autotag]Kris Moutinho[/autotag] is soft spoken. You just wouldn’t know it by looking at him.
In contrast to his unorthodox hair color choices or the brashness of his sport, the fighter from Milford has a gentle soul.
“But when he gets in the cage, that’s where he changes,” said Tommy Teixeira, Moutinho’s coach. “He becomes a savage. I love it.”
What Moutinho loves is fighting.
Not the day-to-day procedures – like working out or cutting weight – that go along with the sport but the actual brawling itself. The cage is where the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competitor likes to express himself.
It’s where Moutinho can delve into his own fantasy world.
“I become something different. It’s an awakening for me. … It’s something to get me out of my real life,” Moutinho said. “I like the pain of it. I signed up for this.”
Putting on a show
Sean O’Malley and Kris Moutinho, right, at UFC 264. (USA TODAY Sports)
In June, Moutinho quit his job at the Benjamin Moore paint factory in Milford. He had worked there for five years.
“It was a spur-of-the moment idea,” Moutinho, 29, said. “I just wanted to fight. So I talked to my girlfriend and said ‘I have to quit, I have to try to do something else. I’ve got to commit my whole life to this.’”
A month later, Moutinho found himself on UFC’s biggest stage: Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 5-foot-7 fighter wasn’t originally scheduled to be on a UFC 264 card that featured Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor on July 10. But, 11 days prior to fight night, Moutinho was tabbed to replace Louis Smolka in a bantamweight bout against Sean O’Malley.
To make weight at 135, Moutinho dropped nearly 20 pounds.
“I’d never cut weight that fast,” he said. “By the time I was there, I had it in check.”
“It’s not forever money,” Moutinho said. “I have to start figuring out how I can turn this into more money before I start buying cars and Gucci flip flops.”
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In the short-notice fight, Moutinho withstood 230 total strikes before referee Herb Dean stopped the bout with 27 seconds left.
Mountinho gained respect throughout the UFC community and a huge following on social media.
“I can’t think of many people who would capitalize on that opportunity like Kris did,” said Brian Raposo, Moutinho’s striking coach. “It was just a great experience, and he went out there and put on a show.”
“It’s been insane,” Teixeira said. “He went from only us knowing how badass he was to everybody in the world knowing, and it’s about time.”
‘The soulless king’
Kris Moutinho. (Ken McGag, Milford Daily News)
On his Instagram page, Moutinho writes “9-5 professional ufc fighter” and “hop on the train” in his biography. As for his handle, it reads: kris_is_soulless.
The name stems from Shang Tsung, a fictional character from the popular “Mortal Kombat” video game. A villain, Tsung is most commonly known for his ability to absorb the souls of defeated warriors.
Tsung serves as inspiration for Moutinho when he steps inside the cage.
“He’s the ‘Soulless King,’ he’s stealing people’s souls and that’s where I got it from,” Moutinho said.
“Kris doesn’t back down. He only goes forward,” Raposo said. “He’s very aggressive and he’s actually very well-rounded. He’s got great wrestling and great jiu-jitsu skills but he likes to wear people down. He sort of breaks people’s will.”
During COVID-19 quarantine, Moutinho was bored – he couldn’t fight anyone amid coronavirus concerns. So he decided to dye his hair.
First he went blond, and then he went blue, pink and purple before trying almost all the other colors of the rainbow. During his primetime UFC fight in July, Moutinho rocked a neon-green hair color.
“It ended up sticking,” said Moutinho of coloring his hair.
And that’s what Moutinho hopes to do in the UFC. Stick.
Kris Moutinho, 29, right, spars with Brandon Demoura, 20, at the Regiment Training Center in Fall River, Mass. (Ken McGag, Milford Daily News)
The 2011 Milford High graduate has a four-fight contract with the company as his second bout is scheduled for March 12, 2022, when Moutinho will face Guido Cannetti on UFC Fight Night.
“Right now I’m just focused on getting ready for March 12 and showing the world who I am and that I belong in the UFC,” Moutinho said. “It’s just a blessing from God that I made it in, and now it’s time to stay in.”
In order to stick around the cages of UFC, Moutinho will need help from his coaches – both current and past. He’s already earned their respect.
“He has always been a tough, quiet kid with a lot to prove,” Milford High wrestling coach PJ Boccia said. “He worked harder than most and was always looking to improve. He is one of the toughest wrestlers to come out of Milford, and it is great seeing him compete on the national stage.”
“I’m excited for his future in the sport,” Raposo said.
“I think the sky is the limit with him,” Teixeira said. “I think he could hold a title in the UFC. I absolutely think that.”
Not bad for a soft-spoken fighter from Milford who was mixing paints for a living just five months ago.
Kris Moutinho is set for his second octagon appearance.
[autotag]Kris Moutinho[/autotag] is set to make his second UFC appearance – a second time.
Moutinho (9-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) is expected to meet [autotag]Guido Cannetti[/autotag] (8-6 MMA, 2-5 UFC) at UFC Fight Night on March 12, which does not have an announced venue or location.
MMA Junkie confirmed that verbal agreements are in place with two people close to the situation. They requested anonymity because the UFC has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Argento was first to report the news.
Although he lost his promotional debut, Moutinho’s popularity skyrocketed after showing incredible durability in a unanimous decision loss to Sean O’Malley this past July at UFC 264. The 29-year-old was scheduled to face Aaron Phillips in October but withdrew due to injury.
Argentina’s Cannetti will look to snap a three-fight losing skid, most recently a split decision to Mana Martinez in August. “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America” alum’s last octagon victory came in May 2018 over Diego Rivas.
With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for March 12 includes:
A fan-favorite bantamweight just one fight into his promotional tenure, Kris Moutinho will have to wait a little longer to make his second UFC walk.
[autotag]Kris Moutinho[/autotag] will have to wait a little bit longer to make his second walk to the UFC cage.
A fan-favorite bantamweight just one fight into his promotional tenure, Moutinho (9-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has withdrawn from his scheduled Oct. 23 bout vs. [autotag]Aaron Phillips[/autotag] due to injury. Stepping into his place will be Factory X fighter [autotag]Jonathan Martinez[/autotag].
Two people with knowledge of the booking informed MMA Junkie of the matchup Friday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Martinez (13-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC) looks to bounce back from a knockout loss to Davey Grant in March. The defeat snapped a two-fight winning streak for the 27-year-old fighter and marked the first time in his pro career he was finished.
Phillips (12-4 MMA, 0-3 UFC) re-signed with the UFC in 2020 after nearly six years outside of the promotion. He took a short-notice fight against Jack Shore, which he lost by second-round submission. The defeat snapped a five-fight winning streak for the Louisianan.
After a loss to Sean O’Malley, Kris Moutinho is still seeking his first UFC victory.
[autotag]Kris Moutinho[/autotag] has his second UFC fight booked.
A Massachusetts-based bantamweight, Moutinho (9-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) is set to return Oct. 23 against [autotag]Aaron Phillips[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 0-4 UFC) at a location and venue to be announced.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
In July, Moutinho made his promotional debut at UFC 264 when he lost a hard-fought battle against Sean O’Malley. Although he was finished with strikes in Round 3, Moutinho gained a cult-like following for his sudden, short-notice appearance in the international spotlight – and his zombie-like ability to take O’Malley’s shots.
Phillips, 32, seeks his first UFC victory in his second stint. After a five-year rebuild on the regional scene, Phillips returned to the UFC in July 2020. He lost via second-round submission to Jack Shore. Phillips was booked for October against Adrian Yanez but withdrew due to injury. He was then rescheduled for July 2021 against Cameron Else, but his opponent withdrew and the fight was canceled.
With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Oct. 23 includes:
