UFC CEO Dana White and his team have been very proactive in adding and removing fighters from the promotion’s roster in the fourth quarter of 2024.

This trend continued on Friday, November 8, when the UFC released light heavyweight Caio Machado and heavyweight Rodrigo Nascimento.

Machado’s release was no surprise. He came close to predicting that before his split decision loss to Brendson Ribeiro at UFC Edmonton on Nov. 2. Machado had told members of the media before the event that he knew. he was fighting for his job.

Since he comes off the short end of the bat, it’s not shocking to see him progress. Machado’s latest defeat was his third in a row and dropped his professional MMA record to 8-4-1.

Machado earned a spot on the UFC roster with a unanimous decision win over Kevin Szaflarski on Season 7 of the Dana White Contender Series in August 2023. Unfortunately, Machado never managed to get a win on the main roster.

This loss was especially tough for Machado because he put in a ton of work to transform his body.

The 30-year-old Machado’s career isn’t over yet, but he’s not in a strong position as he faces free agency and is on a three-game losing streak.

Nascimento is also a losing fighter in Edmonton. His release shouldn’t come as a major shock either, as the UFC did not renew Alexandr Romanov’s contract after the Edmonton card and he was the man who beat Nascimento.

Nascimento and Romanov entered their fight in the UFC’s heavyweight Top 15, but that division is undergoing a significant purge. Some have suggested that the UFC is getting rid of poorly conditioned heavyweights, especially those who haven’t had much success or a draw like Derrick Lewis.

Popular MMA X account ACD MMA he said the promotion was cutting down on “dad-bodied” heavyweights.

As Romanov and Nascimento left the Top 15 and the UFC, they were replaced by Waldo Cortes Acosta and Mick Parkin.

A steady diet of young heavyweights were recently added to the UFC’s roster following Season 8 of DWCS. The removal of fighters like Romanov and Nascimento appears to be a sign that the UFC is moving towards being younger and leaner in its heavyweight division.

Other UFC News

Speaking of DWCS and new fighters added to the UFC roster, UFC Vegas 100 will feature a few new faces at the Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday. Neither heavyweight is in play, but former ONE champion Reinier de Ridder makes his promotional debut against Gerald Meerschaert.

DWCS Season 8 standout Mansur Abdul-Malik makes his main roster debut against Dusko Todorovic. Another Season 8 winner, Cortavation Romious, will also make his first note of the big show when he faces Gaston Bolanos.

Here’s a look at the entire card.

Where to Watch: ESPN+

• Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates
• Gerald Meerschaert vs Reinier de Ridder
• Luana Pinheiro vs Gillian Robertson
• Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Dusko Todorovic
• Carolina Kowalkiewicz vs Denise Gomes
• Gaston Bolaños vs Cortacious Romious
• Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs Zach Scroggins
• Matthew Semelsberger vs. Charles Radtke
• Cody Stamann vs Da’Mon Blackshear
• Tresean Gore vs Antonio Trocoli
• Melissa Mullins vs Klaudia Sygula

Watch out for post-event news following UFC Vegas 100.