UFC lets go of former title challenger Ali Bagautinov, Zach Makovsky

The UFC has parted ways with a pair of flyweights, including former title challenger Ali Bagautinov.

Flyweight veterans Ali Bagautinov and Zach Makovsky are no longer on the UFC roster. MMAjunkie confirmed the news with UFC officials on Thursday, with the report noting that both men were “not being considered for new deals.” Bagautinov had been the #7 ranked flyweight, while Makovsky was #12.

Bagautinov (14-5) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Kyoji Horiguchi at UFC Belfast in November. That fight marked his third defeat in his last four fights, one of which was a one-sided decision vs. reigning champion Demetrious Johnson. Bagautinov would later test positive for EPO after the Mighty Mouse bout, and he was suspended for one year. Upon his return, he lost to Joseph Benavidez at UFC 192, before beating Geane Herrera at UFC Ottawa last June. Bagautinov’s first three bouts inside the Octagon were triumphs vs. Marcos Vinicius, Tim Elliott, and John Lineker.

Makovsky (19-8) dropped a unanimous decision to Dustin Ortiz at last month’s UFC 206 in Toronto. “Fun Size” is on a three-fight losing skid, although he was perhaps unlucky not to get the nod over John Dodson at UFC 187. His other defeat was to Joseph Benavidez. Makovsky started his UFC career with wins over Scott Jorgensen and Josh Sampo, before losing to Jussier Formiga in August 2014. Zach’s last win came against Tim Elliott in February 2015.

The rankings have since been reshuffled, as Dustin Ortiz moved up from 9th to 7th, while Louis Smolka and Tim Elliott were bumped to 12th and 13th, respectively. Ben Nguyen and Geane Herrera have been promoted to the top 15, with Nguyen in 14th and Herrera in 15th.

The UFC has parted ways with a pair of flyweights, including former title challenger Ali Bagautinov.

Flyweight veterans Ali Bagautinov and Zach Makovsky are no longer on the UFC roster. MMAjunkie confirmed the news with UFC officials on Thursday, with the report noting that both men were “not being considered for new deals.” Bagautinov had been the #7 ranked flyweight, while Makovsky was #12.

Bagautinov (14-5) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Kyoji Horiguchi at UFC Belfast in November. That fight marked his third defeat in his last four fights, one of which was a one-sided decision vs. reigning champion Demetrious Johnson. Bagautinov would later test positive for EPO after the Mighty Mouse bout, and he was suspended for one year. Upon his return, he lost to Joseph Benavidez at UFC 192, before beating Geane Herrera at UFC Ottawa last June. Bagautinov’s first three bouts inside the Octagon were triumphs vs. Marcos Vinicius, Tim Elliott, and John Lineker.

Makovsky (19-8) dropped a unanimous decision to Dustin Ortiz at last month’s UFC 206 in Toronto. “Fun Size” is on a three-fight losing skid, although he was perhaps unlucky not to get the nod over John Dodson at UFC 187. His other defeat was to Joseph Benavidez. Makovsky started his UFC career with wins over Scott Jorgensen and Josh Sampo, before losing to Jussier Formiga in August 2014. Zach’s last win came against Tim Elliott in February 2015.

The rankings have since been reshuffled, as Dustin Ortiz moved up from 9th to 7th, while Louis Smolka and Tim Elliott were bumped to 12th and 13th, respectively. Ben Nguyen and Geane Herrera have been promoted to the top 15, with Nguyen in 14th and Herrera in 15th.