The UFC continues to move through another tough round of roster cuts as the promotion and Dana White look to reshape the ever-evolving landscape of mixed martial arts. With the roster constantly swelling and young talent always knocking on the door, staying afloat inside the UFC is one of the most difficult challenges an athlete can face. Today, two veterans have met the end of the road, highlighting just how ruthless the business side of the sport can be. Every fight matters, and even a small losing streak can change a fighter’s entire career.
Today we learned that both Kevin Jousset and Guram Kutateladze have been released from the promotion, as reported by Borrachinha Depot on X. Kevin Jousset, a French-born welterweight known as ‘Air,’ fought out of New Zealand and competed in the UFC’s 170-pound division.
He compiled a 2-4 record inside the Octagon, with his most recent loss coming via unanimous decision to Jonothan Micallef. Jousset initially made a splash when he debuted with a first-round submission win over Kiefer Crosbie at UFC 293 on the Israel Adesanya vs Sean Strickland card.
Guram Kutateladze, nicknamed the ‘Georgian Viking,’ also saw his UFC journey come to an end. Competing in the lightweight division, the Georgian-born fighter had a 2-3 record in the promotion.
Kutateladze made an immediate impact by defeating Mateusz Gamrot, a future top-5 ranked contender, by split decision at UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs Korean Zombie. However, after a string of tough outings, his most recent loss to Kaue Fernandes ultimately sealed his fate.
The latest cuts serve as a reminder that no matter the past victories, the UFC remains a ‘what have you done lately’ business. As for what’s next, both fighters could look toward opportunities in other global promotions such as PFL, Bellator, or ONE Championship. Given their skill sets and name recognition, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them resurface elsewhere in the MMA world soon.
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