Bryan Battle: Released| Missed weight| Cut| Wiki| Record

Introduction

Bryan “The Butcher” Battle’s story in the UFC reads like a rollercoaster—bursting onto the scene as a fearless competitor, fueled by sheer grit, only to find his path derailed by repeated weight-cut issues. This article breaks down his rise, his struggles with making weight, the UFC’s ultimate decision to cut him, and a snapshot of his wiki-worthy record.

1. Who Is Bryan Battle? (Wiki Profile)

Bryan Christopher Battle (born September 21, 1994, in Springfield, Missouri) is an American professional mixed martial artist who’s fought across multiple weight classes over his career.

• Nickname: The Butcher

• Background: Raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. Overcame early hardship, including homelessness due to a house fire. Started training MMA at age 21 after weighing around 300 lbs.

• Career Launch: Turned pro in 2019. Gained fame by winning The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 29 Middleweight Tournament.

• In the UFC:

  • Fought mostly at Welterweight from 2022 onward, but began his UFC tenure in Middleweight (2018–2022) and had earlier fights as a Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight.

  • Known for explosive finishes—with 4 KOs, 5 submissions, and 3 decision victories.

• Notable UFC Wins and Awards:

  • Defeated Takashi Sato with a head-kick knockout (Welterweight debut, August 2022)—earning a Performance of the Night award.

  • Knocked out Gabriel Green in just 14 seconds—also clinching Performance of the Night, despite missing weight (catchweight bout at 173 lbs).

  • Submitted A.J. Fletcher, and delivered a TKO against Kevin Jousset—earning another Performance of the Night on UFC Fight Night 243 WikipediaSherdog.

  • Faced Randy Brown at UFC 310 (December 2024)—won via split decision, though again missed weight (came in at 175 lbs for a welterweight bout).

2. The Missed Weights: What Went Wrong

Weight misses have become an unfortunate pattern in Bryan Battle’s UFC career:

• May 2023 – vs. Gabriel Green: Missed weight at 173 lbs against a 170-lb limit; the fight proceeded at catchweight, and Battle was fined. Despite this, he scored a lightning-fast 14-second KO and earned Performance of the Night.

• December 2024 – vs. Randy Brown (UFC 310): Missed weight by four pounds (weighed 175 lbs). Brown publicly expressed frustration, suggesting Battle may have done this intentionally to gain a fight-night advantage. The bout still happened, and Battle won via split decision.

• August 2025 – vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (UFC 319): Battle moved up to middleweight, yet missed by four pounds again (weighed 190 lbs for a 186-lb non-title fight). The fight was initially set to proceed at catchweight with a 30% purse penalty, but the UFC ultimately canceled it due to repeated weight issues.

Why did it happen? Battle admitted he underestimated the difficulty of moving up a weight class and noted that as he ages, cutting weight has become significantly more challenging. He described the process as spiraling out of control despite losing just two pounds in five hours on weigh-in day.

3. Release from the UFC (Cut)

The culmination of back-to-back weight misses proved costly:

• UFC 319 Incident (July/August 2025): His missed weight and the resulting cancellation of the fight were the last straws. This marked at least his third weight-miss during his UFC tenure.

• Official Release: On August 20, 2025, UFC confirmed they had released Bryan Battle from his contract following these repeated infractions.

Community Reaction: On reddit, fans and analysts debated whether Battle genuinely didn’t care or whether the UFC simply could not tolerate jeopardizing fight cards. One comment succinctly put it:

“He doesn’t care about missing weight, he cares about fights being cancelled. If the other guy took the fight, he 1000% wouldn’t have been cut.”

4. Career Record at a Glance

Here’s a breakdown of Bryan Battle’s pro MMA record, as reflected on his Wikipedia and other reputable sources:

Highlights:

• TUF triumph in 2021.

• Multiple Performance of the Night awards.

• Rapid finishes demonstrating explosiveness and finishing ability.

Limitations:

• Difficulty meeting weight requirements across welterweight and even at middleweight.

• Repeated misses culminating in his release from the promotion.

5. Takeaways & What’s Next? (Looming Questions)

• Weight Management Behind the Scenes: Battle attributed his struggles to aging and underestimating how hard the cut would be, especially after moving up a division. His comments reflect a fighter aware of his limitations—but perhaps not adapting quickly enough.

• Legacy vs. Repercussion: Despite his dynamic fight finishes and accolades, his inability to reliably make weight overshadowed his potential. He leaves the UFC with a solid record and highlight reel—yet also the cautionary tale of what repeated infractions can cost.

• What Lies Ahead?

  • Will Battle attempt to rebound in smaller promotions (e.g., PFL, Bellator) with stricter weight management?

  • Can he retool his training, nutrition, and weight-cut strategy to return as a viable contender?

  • Will fans get to see a comeback narrative—a redemption arc following his UFC exit?

Conclusion

Bryan Battle’s journey in the UFC is a compelling mix of highs and lows. From winning TUF 29 and delivering explosive finishes to being released over weight issues, his career provides both inspiration and caution. His 12–2–1 record, combined with his performance accolades, prove his skill. But in pro combat sports, discipline—in and out of the cage—matters just as much as power and technique.