MMA Organization UFC Dismisses Long-Serving Athlete Entangled in Prolonged Series of Defeats
The UFC's roster exchange is still in full swing, with featherweight fighters bearing the brunt of the latest cuts.
Recently, the promotion has sent packing several featherweight talents ahead of a major pay-per-view event. Among them, Connor Matthews, a prospect from Massachusetts, was let go after a string of challenging bouts.
Matthews, a once-promising talent who entered the UFC with high aspirations following a failed attempt on the Dana White Contender Series, managed a 0-3 record within the Octagon. His departure from the roster coincided with that of Kron Gracie and Hakeem Dawodu, all former featherweight hopefuls.
Connor Matthews' UFC Stint Cut Short with 0-3 Record
Matthews' stint in the UFC was a brief and tumultuous journey. His initial attempt to join the roster ended in victory against Francis Marshall in 2022. However, a return to the independent circuit for a first-round submission win granted him another shot at the UFC.
Unfortunately, Matthews couldn't secure a single win as a member of the UFC's main roster. All three of his losses came in the first round, two via knockout and one by submission. His final appearance, a submission loss to Yadier Del Valle on May 17, marked the end of his tenure with the organization.
Despite his fan-friendly style and resilience, Matthews sadly became another demonstration of the UFC featherweight division's unforgiving nature for newcomers.
Gracie and Dawodu - Also Cut Loose
Kron Gracie, known for his grappling pedigree and being the nephew of UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie, was also cut following a dismal streak of three consecutive losses. He was unable to evolve beyond his jiu-jitsu roots and was knocked out by Bryce Mitchell in his most recent bout.
Hakeem Dawodu, on the other hand, had a longer run but couldn't overcome a tough finale. After missing weight in a 2022 loss to Julian Erosa, pulling out of a scheduled fight in 2023, and returning to drop a decision to Cub Swanson last August, Dawodu's UFC run ended this week.
Upcoming Event: UFC 316
The timing of these cuts comes just before one of the year's most anticipated events: UFC 316, taking place on June 7 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The headlining bout is a bantamweight championship rematch between current champion Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley. In the co-main event, Julianna Peña puts her women's bantamweight title on the line against Olympic gold medalist and PFL crossover star Kayla Harrison. The card features several exciting matchups, including a middleweight battle between Kelvin Gastelum and Joe Pyfer, Mario Bautista against Patchy Mix, and a welterweight showdown between Vicente Luque and Kevin Holland.
In the realm of mixed-martial-arts (MMA), the UFC's ongoing roster reshuffle has resulted in the releases of several featherweight fighters, such as Connor Matthews, Kron Gracie, and Hakeem Dawodu, who have all experienced struggles within the Octagon. The UFC's upcoming pay-per-view event, UFC 316, scheduled for June 7, comes as these cuts were made, setting the stage for newcomers to make their mark in the sport.
