16-Fight UFC Veteran Axed and Nobody in the Octagon Is Safe
Whoa, hold up, fight fans! The UFC just dropped a bombshell, slicing three more names off its active roster today. It's a brutal business, and sometimes even a long, gritty career isn't enough to keep your spot. We're talking about Thiago Moises, a legit 16-fight Octagon veteran, getting cut alongside Cameron Smotherman and Ariane Carnelossi. Guilherme Cruz and the roster.watch tracker broke the news, and it's a stark reminder: this promotion waits for no one.
Moises' Rocky Road From Contender to Cut
Thiago Moises, the 31-year-old Brazilian, was the longest-tenured fighter in this group to get the boot. With a 19-10 overall record, he stepped into the Octagon 16 times, which is no small feat. He started out strong, signed off the Contender Series back in 2018, even debuting against a tough Beneil Dariush. After a bit of a shaky 1-2 start in his first three fights, Moises found his rhythm, rattling off three straight wins between 2020 and 2021. That run even earned him a huge main event against Islam Makhachev. But man, that's where the consistency dried up.
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He lost that Makhachev fight, and honestly, he never really got back into serious Lightweight contention after that. His final eight fights saw him go just 3-5, and he exited the promotion on a two-fight losing streak, including a brutal knockout loss to Jared Gordon. Finishing with an 8-8 promotional record, you gotta wonder what's next for Moises. This sport is unforgiving, but with a few wins on the regional scene, maybe we could see him back one day.
Brutal KOs and Scary Weigh-Ins: The Others Who Got Cut
Then there's Cameron Smotherman, whose UFC journey was a wild ride, but way too short. The dude started with a bang, landing a massive upset win over Jake Hadley as a +380 underdog on short notice. He literally sent Hadley packing! But that was his only win in the Octagon, folks. Smotherman, who holds a 12-7 overall record, lost his next three fights, with his final defeat being a brutal knockout against Kai Asakura. Even more frightening was his weigh-in incident before UFC 324 earlier this year, where "The Baby-Faced Killa" fainted and face-planted on stage, forcing him off the card entirely. He leaves the UFC with a 1-3 promotional record, a real tough break.
Finally, we have Ariane Carnelossi. The 33-year-old Brazilian powerhouse, 15-5 overall, was axed after getting brutally knocked out in her last fight earlier this month. Remember UFC 261? Carnelossi was part of the first fight back in front of fans after the COVID-19 pandemic, absolutely slugging it out with Na Liang for two rounds before getting the finish. What a moment that was! But since that insane brawl, she went 2-3 in the Octagon, getting finished in her final two appearances. Carnelossi wraps up her UFC run with a 3-4 promotional record.
The Fight Game Is Cold, What's Next?
It's always tough to see fighters go, especially veterans who've given so much to the sport. The UFC roster is constantly evolving, and these cuts are a stark reminder of how quickly things can change. While these three are out for now, the regional scene is always buzzing. Will any of them fight their way back to the big show? That's the beauty and the beast of MMA. The next event is right around the corner, and you can bet the pressure is on for everyone still on the roster.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.