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

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

Machado’s release was not a surprise. He was close to predicting it before his split decision loss to Brendson Ribeiro at UFC Edmonton on November 2. Machado told media before the event that he knew he fought for his job.

Because he came out on the wrong side, seeing him move on isn’t a shock. Machado’s latest loss was his third in a row, which dropped his professional MMA record to 8-4-1.

Machado earned a spot on the UFC roster with a unanimous decision victory over Kevin Szaflarski during Season 7 of the Dana White Contender Series in August 2023. Unfortunately for Machado, he has never earned a victory as as a member of the main roster.

The loss was especially hard on Machado because he put tons of work into transforming his body.

At 30, Machado’s career isn’t over, but he’s facing free agency and he’s not in a position of power as he’s on a three-game losing streak.

Nascimento is another fighter who lost 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 one who beat Nascimento.

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

Popular MMA X account ACD MMA said the promotion was cutting down on “dad-bod” 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 was recently added to the UFC roster following DWCS Season 8. Cutting fighters like Romanov and Nascimento appears to be a signal that the UFC is moving to rejuvenate and refine its heavyweight division.

Other UFC news

Speaking of DWCS and new fighters added to the UFC roster, UFC Vegas 100 will feature some new faces on Saturday in Las Vegas at the Apex. No heavyweights are in action, but former ONE champion Reinier de Ridder makes his promotional debut against Gerald Meerschaert.

DWCS Season 8 star Mansur Abdul-Malik makes his main team debut against Dusko Todorovic. Another season 8 winner, Cortavious Romious, will also get his first piece on the big show when he takes on Gaston Bolanos.

Here’s a look at the entire map.

Where to watch: ESPN+

• Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates
• Gérald Meerschaert against Reinier de Ridder
• Luana Pinheiro vs. Gillian Robertson
• Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Dusko Todorovic
• Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Denise Gomes
• Gaston Bolaños vs. Cortavious 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

Be on the lookout for post-event coverage after UFC Vegas 100.