UFC shakes up roster. The UFC has made another round of roster changes, and one name in particular has left fans scratching their heads.
The UFC has once again trimmed its roster, but this latest round of cuts has sparked debate among fans due to the release of highly regarded bantamweight prospect Daniel Marcos.
According to recent roster updates, the promotion has removed four fighters from its active roster: Daniel Marcos, Lando Vannata, Jamie Mullarkey, and Vince Morales. While roster turnover is common in the UFC, the departure of Marcos stands out given both his record and recent success inside the Octagon. with one no-contest and a strong 5-1 UFC run. His only loss in the promotion came against Montel Jackson in May 2025.
What makes the decision even more puzzling is that Marcos was coming off a victory over Miles Johns at UFC Vegas 111 and had wins over respected UFC competitors including Adrian Yanez, John Castaneda, and Davey Grant during his time with the promotion. Many fans reacted with surprise online, questioning why a fighter with such a strong UFC record would not be retained.
Lando Vannata (12-8-2) had been in the UFC since making a memorable short-notice debut against Tony Ferguson in 2016. Although he won just four of his 14 UFC fights, his exciting fighting style and willingness to take risks made him a fan favorite throughout his time in the promotion.
Mullarkey (18-9) also had an overall losing record in the promotion sharing the cage with highly-touted prospects like Mauricio Ruffy and Nasrat Haqparast, and last fought in the UFC in a defeat to Quillan Salkilld this past January.
Morales (16-11) earned his way back to the UFC in 2024 after winning five in a row since his departure in 2022, but went winless in four decisions since then against Colby Thicknesse, Raul Rosas Jr., Elijah Smith and Taylor Lapilus.
Roster turnover has become increasingly common as the UFC continues to refresh its talent pool. Still, Marcos’ departure stands out because fighters with winning UFC records are rarely released without obvious circumstances such as contract disputes, inactivity, or failed negotiations. The UFC has not publicly explained the reason behind the move.
For Marcos, however, free agency could create new opportunities. Given his record and age, he is expected to attract attention from several major MMA organizations.
