UFC Parts Ways With Former TUF Winner In Recent Talent Sweep

The UFC’s roster change reporters are seemingly back online. Per UFC Roster News, the UFC parted ways with former Ultimate Fighter winner and lightweight hopeful Kurt Holobaugh in a recent talent sweep.

In addition to Holobaugh, the UFC also removed Kiefer Crosbie, Chris Barnett, Quang Le, Rolando Bedoya and Yanal Ashmouz since November 8. Holobaugh is easily the most accomplished of the group.

While he only managed a 2-7 record in the UFC, he has a 21-10 record overall and his distinction as a TUF winner stands out.

Holobaugh last fought on May 31 when he was put to sleep by an anaconda choke from Jordan Leavitt. It was officially ruled a technical submission defeat. The loss was Holobaugh’s second in a row.

During his career, Holobaugh’s best win came in the UFC finale when he submitted Austin Hubbard via triangle to take home the Season 31 title.

Fresh off the TUF win Holobaugh lost a unanimous decision to Trey Ogden. He rebounded with his own unanimous decision victory over Kaynan Kruschewsky in July 2024. As it turns out, that will be the last victory of his UFC career.

He dropped a decision to Alexander Hernandez in March and was then choked out by Leavitt in May.

At 39 years old, it seems the writing was on the wall in bold font. Because of Holobaugh’s age and his modest success in the UFC, he may consider hanging up his gloves.

If he doesn’t, he would seemingly be a good fit for the Professional Fighters League. Even there, at 39 years old, Holobaugh would be facing an uphill battle.

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Barnett’s release was predictable, but still drew some reaction from UFC fans. The distinctly built American heavyweight is a fan favorite, but he had a few factors working against him. He’s also 39 years old, on a two-fight losing streak (most recently losing a unanimous decision to Hamdy Abdelwahab on October 25.

Barnett also hasn’t been reliable when booked.

Since 2022, he has fought just four times. He’s lost three of those fights and missed weight for the only fight he won–a KO victory over Jake Collier in September 2022.

Through 2023-24, Barnett was scheduled for four fights. He withdrew from three of them and the fourth didn’t happen as his opponent, Waldo Cortes-Acosta withdrew in October 2024.

Despite the MMA community’s affinity for Barnett, that track record is a stronger case for removal from the roster that staying in what is already an underwhelming UFC heavyweight division.

What’s Next For the UFC?

We’re less than a week away from UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden.

Islam Makhachev will look to become UFC welterweight champion when he takes on the newly crowned Jack Della Maddalena in the latter’s first defense of the title.

Also, in the co-main event, Weili Zhang will look to do what Makhachev is doing. After a long reign as UFC women’s strawweight champion, Weili is moving up to challenge fellow future Hall-of-Famer Valentina Shevchenko in one of the biggest fights in women’s MMA history.

Here’s a look at the entire card.

UFC 322 Main Card (PPV) – 10pm ET

• Welterweight Title Bout: Jack Della Maddalena (c) vs. Islam Makhachev
• Women’s Flyweight Title Bout: Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs. Zhang Weili
• Welterweight: Sean Brady vs. Michael Morales
• Welterweight: Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates
• Lightweight: Beneil Dariush vs. Benoît Saint Denis

UFC 322 Prelims (ESPN+) – 8pm ET

• Middleweight: Bo Nickal vs. Rodolfo Vieira
• Women’s Flyweight: Erin Blanchfield vs. Tracy Cortez
• Lightweight: Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Cody Haddon

Early Prelims (ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass) – 6pm ET

• Middleweight: Kyle Daukaus vs. Gerald Meerschaert
• Featherweight: Pat Sabatini vs. Chepe Mariscal
• Women’s Strawweight: Angela Hill vs. Fatima Kline
• Middleweight: Baisangur Susurkaev vs. Eric McConico
• Lightweight: Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Matheus Camilo