UFC veteran removed from roster

Ilir Latifi is the most recent fighter to be dropped from the UFC roster.

The company did not sign the seasoned heavyweight and light heavyweight when his most recent contract ended in May of this year. UFC representatives confirmed the news.

Latifi has been dropped off the roster for the time being, however, he may be re-signed in the future.

When his colleague Alexander Gustafsson was forced off the event in 2013, Latifi accepted a last-minute bout against Gegard Mousasi and became the first African fighter to compete in the UFC. He was defeated by future light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in a unanimous decision loss, but he stayed with the UFC and managed two straight victories before that.

After switching to heavyweight in 2020, he eventually defeated Tanner Boser and Aleksei Oleinik twice before losing a decision to Derrick Lewis. The following fight, Latifi's last in the UFC, saw him lose by split decision against Rodrigo Nascimento at the most recent UFC Vegas 73 event.

Latifi can now join any organization as a free agent as he is no longer a member of the UFC roster.