Dana White ruthlessly axes three fighters in latest round of cuts just a day before UFC 316

Dana White has ruthlessly released three fighters in the latest round of cuts just a day before UFC 316.

The UFC returns this Saturday for the blockbuster UFC 316 card in Newark, New Jersey, which features two huge title fights.

In the main-event, Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley run it back for the UFC bantamweight title.

Dvalishvili beat O'Malley by unanimous decision at UFC 306 to claim the 135lbs belt.

And in the co-main event, Julianna Pena defends her UFC women's bantamweight championship against two-time Olympic gold medalist and former PFL tournament winner Kayla Harrison.

The main-card also features Kelvin Gastelum, Kevin Holland and Patchy Mix, who is set to make his UFC debut following his spell with Bellator.

But just a day before UFC 316, White has trimmed the promotion's roster, parting ways with not one but THREE fighters.

Three fighters have been let go by the UFC ahead of UFC 316. Image: Getty

Kron Gracie, Hakeem Dawodu and Connor Matthews have been removed from the UFC roster.

Gracie, a member of the Gracie family of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, won just one fight in the UFC, losing three fights in a row before his release.

The 36-year-old suffered a bruising defeat to Bryce Mitchell at UFC 310 last December in his last outing.

Kron Gracie has been released by the UFC. Image: Getty

Dawodu, 33, had 10 fights in the UFC and went 6-4 with the MMA leaders.

He beat the likes of Julio Arce, Zubaira Tukhugov and Michael Trizano during his UFC spell.

However, he is on a two-fight losing skid, having lost to Julian Erosa and Cub Swanson, who scored a controversial decision victory almost two years ago.

Connor Matthews fought under the UFC banner three times and lost all three bouts via stoppage.

Matthews, 33, suffered a first-round rear naked choke loss to Yadier del Valle in his last outing.

He entered the promotion after beating Jair Farias on Dana White's Contender Series.