UFC releases 11 fighters in latest round of roster cuts
The UFC released 11 fighters from its roster on Thursday, including middleweight Antonio Carlos Junior, the promotion told MMA Fighting's Guilherme Cruz and Damon Martin.
Peter Barrett, Spike Carlyle, Anthony Ivy, Jacob Kilburn, Rhys McKee, Carlton Minus, Sarah Moras, Vinicius Moreira, Markus Perez, and Cole Williams were also cut.
Vanessa Melo is no longer under contract with the UFC following her lackluster win over Moras in January. However, her team is reportedly hopeful she'll re-sign with the company.
Carlos Junior, who won "The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3" in 2014 as a heavyweight, is the biggest name included in the promotion's latest round of roster cuts. He competed in the Octagon since 2014 and recorded a 7-5 (1 no-contest) record across three weight classes.
The biggest win of Carlos Junior's career came in 2016 when he topped Marvin Vettori by unanimous decision at UFC 207. The 30-year-old also holds a submission victory over veteran Tim Boetsch.
Carlos Junior hit a slump toward the end of his UFC run, exiting the promotion with three straight losses. Most recently, he fell short to Brad Tavares at UFC 257 last month.