UFC Releases Three Fighters Including Bantamweight Who Collapsed at Weigh-In

Overview

• Reports on Friday, June 19 said the UFC removed Cameron Smotherman, Thiago Moises and Ariane Carnelossi from its roster rather than issuing a formal announcement.
• Smotherman collapsed after making 135.5 pounds at the UFC 324 weigh-ins in January, was hospitalized and had his bout scrapped, but reporters say his June release was driven chiefly by a three-fight losing streak capped by a May knockout loss to Kai Asakura.
• Thiago Moises, a 16-fight UFC veteran who suffered recent stoppage defeats after earlier wins earned him higher-profile matchups, and strawweight Ariane Carnelossi, who was knocked out on June 6, were also cut in the same round of departures.
• Coverage notes the news surfaced through roster-watch channels and media outlets rather than a company statement, fitting a broader pattern of the promotion trimming its roster this year that included recent exits such as Ketlen Vieira and Colby Covington.
• The released fighters are expected to pursue regional cards or rival promotions such as the PFL or MVP MMA as they rebuild, and Smotherman’s viral weigh-in collapse has renewed calls for tighter fight-week medical monitoring and changes to weight-cut rules.