Dana White Cuts Ex-MMA Champion From UFC as Details of Brutal Release Emerge

A former MMA world champion has been ruthlessly released by the UFC after a disastrous run.

UFC 324 marked the promotion's return after a brief hiatus, with the event kicking off a new era on Paramount.

And the MMA leaders make a swift return, with the famed Octagon setting up shop in Sydney, Australia, for this weekend's UFC 325.

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defends his title against Diego Lopes in a rematch of last year's clash.

Ahead of the event, Dana White has trimmed the UFC's roster, having let go of a big-named fighter, who joined the company as a Bellator champion.

Patchy Mix has revealed he has been cut by the UFC after going 0-2.

Mix, who entered the UFC as the Bellator bantamweight champion, had a lot of buzz about him given his Bellator form and was considered one of the best fighters outside of the UFC.

Patchy Mix joined the UFC as Bellator bantamweight champion. Image: Getty

The 32-year-old made his promotional debut at UFC 316 against top contender Mario Bautista but came up short, losing on points.

Bautista outpointed Mix by unanimous decision in June, with the star fighter returning at UFC 320 in October.

However, he succumbed to Jakub Wiklacz, who secured a shock split decision victory.

Mix has since been released by the UFC within 12 months of signing with the promotion.

He's wasted no time in finding a new home, having signed a deal with Japanese MMA promotion Rizin Fighting Federation.

Patchy Mix went 0-2 in the UFC. Image: Getty

Speaking in a pre-fight presser ahead of his Rizin debut against Kyoma Akimoto on March 7, the American bantamweight revealed he had to wait for 'five to six weeks' to learn his UFC fate.

"My release, the process was kind of after the last fight,” he said at a pre-fight press conference," he said.

"I waited about five, six weeks, and then Ali [Abdelaziz] told me I was going to be released."

Mix added: "I started searching and thinking what I wanna do with my career. I beat a lot of guys in other organisations, even this organisation, but the main thing was to go up to featherweight to rebrand.

"I wanna show Patch 2.0. I haven’t had fun in a long time because I’m just cutting so much weight to make the weight.

"This transition is going to be important for my career, and RIZIN was a no-brainer."

Mix had won seven fights in a row before joining the UFC, beating the likes of James Gallagher, Kyoji Horiguchi and Sergio Pettis to name but a few.