The former world champion grappler’s loss to Belal Muhammad back in June was reportedly the last bout on his current UFC deal. And it looks like a new contract may not be forthcoming.
It’s looking less and less likely that Maia will be getting that final farewell UFC bout he’s been looking for. The former world champion grappler and multiple time title contender recently revealed that he was aiming for a bout against Donald Cerrone or one of the Diaz brothers as one last bout in his UFC (and likely MMA) career.
Even after Dana White suggested the 43-year-old’s time with the promotion was probably over after his loss to Belal Muhammad, Maia seemed to still be holding out some hope that he and the UFC could come to terms.
“It has happened other times, we’ve all seen it before, the company changing their stance and plans. It depends a lot on what happens in the market,” Maia told MMA Fighting recently, adding that he hoped the UFC would be able to return to Brazil for a card sometime in the not too distant future.
The chances of that seem just that much slimmer, however, following reports that Maia has not only fought out his contract with the world’s largest MMA promotion, but that the UFC’s latest round of updates to their online roster included the removal of Maia’s profile from their “Active” section. It’s a move that usually means an athlete’s time in the Octagon has come to a final close.
MMAJunkie’s John Morgan reported the news, along with the removal of longtime ranked bantamweight contender Jimmie Rivera. Those reported roster trimming moves are also joined by flyweights Ryan Benoit and Jerome Rivera, along with longtime lightweight action fighter Yancy Medeiros and recent featherweight signing Justin Jaynes—who gained notoriety for betting his entire fight purse on himself for a recent bout. Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow for more news and updates on all the UFC’s moves.