Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Dana White, MMA, UFC, Tom Aspinall
Ben McCrum
UFC President Dana White has cut two fighters from the organisation in the aftermath of UFC 321.
The UFC returned to Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena last weekend for a fight card headlined by a heavyweight title clash between champion Tom Aspinall and top contender Ciryl Gane.
Unfortunately, the event ended in disaster as an eye poke from Gane injured Aspinall, meaning the fight was called of a ruled as a no-contest, while the co-main event saw Mackenzie Dern win the vacant women's strawweight title.
The disappointing result in the main event served as the ending of what was a relatively lacklustre main card, with the three fights prior all ending via decision.
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In the wake of the frustrating event, UFC boss White has already decided to release two fighters from the UFC roster.
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Before the main card got underway, an evening of prelims that saw six decisions left fans getting increasingly disappointed by what promised to be an exciting fight card.
And it seems that White has taken notice of this, as he's decided that he's seen enough of both heavyweight Hamdy Abdelwahab and flyweight Azat Maksum, who have been cut from the promotion, via automated UFC roster tracker roster.watch.
Maksum's dismissal doesn't come as a shock after the Kazak fighter lost to Mitch Raposo, despite missing weight and entering the fight as a heavy favourite, taking his record since arriving in the UFC in February 2024 to 0-3.
However, Abdelwahab being cut comes after the heavyweight actually won his bout versus Chris Barnett in a one-sided affair over the fan-favourite.
But, the decision comes as the Egyptian's fight on UFC 321 was the last of his four-fight contract and, despite the result, it wasn't a particularly exciting fight, perhaps explaining why White has decided to let him go.
Abdelwahab's UFC career has also been far from smooth after his first fight, a split-decision win over Don’Tale Mayes, was overturned shortly after due to a failed drug test, with the Egyptian being handed a two year suspension from USADA.
His next two bouts also ended as decisions, one being a win and the other a loss, with his fourth and final fight against Barnett seeing him lose a point for illegal strikes.
Unfortunately, Abdelwahab being cut from the UFC means that Valter Walker will have to find a new opponent after he called the heavyweight out following after his impressive heel hook submission win later on the UFC 321 card.