Gianni Vazquez was released by the UFC days after his debut loss to Javid Basharat on short notice at UFC Vegas 113, replacing Said Nurmagomedov. Vazquez, on a five-fight win streak pre-UFC including stoppages, missed weight but stepped up heroically. Similarly, TUF veteran Nathan Fletcher was removed after a 1-2 UFC record. This highlights UFC's quick roster turnover post-short-notice bouts. It impacts bantamweight depth as both fighters exit. Vazquez may seek other promotions; Fletcher's finishing prowess noted.[3]
The UFC has parted ways with two bantamweights in the days following UFC Vegas 113, releasing Gianni Vazquez shortly after his short-notice debut loss and cutting TUF veteran Nathan Fletcher following a 1-2 run in the promotion.
Vazquez stepped in on short notice to face Javid Basharat at UFC Vegas 113, replacing Said Nurmagomedov. He arrived on the back of a five-fight winning streak that included multiple stoppages, and despite missing weight, he took the assignment. The gamble did not pay off, and the promotion moved on from him within days of the defeat.
His opponent, Javid Basharat, known as "The Snow Leopard," improved to 15-2-0 with the victory. The 30-year-old Englishman, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, is one of the division's more active strikers, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute at a 54 percent accuracy rate. He also contributes on the ground, averaging 1.83 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Nathan Fletcher, 28, also received his release after going 1-2 inside the octagon. The Liverpool-born fighter, who trains at Next Generation MMA Liverpool, carries a 9-3-0 professional record. Fletcher showed genuine finishing ability during his UFC tenure, averaging 3.44 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent, and he was a consistent wrestling threat, averaging 3.53 takedowns per 15 minutes.
The original main event pairing had featured Said Nurmagomedov, the 34-year-old Russian who holds an 18-5-0 record and trains with Fight Club Akhmat, before he was forced out and replaced by Vazquez.
Why it matters
- Both cuts thin an already competitive UFC bantamweight roster
- Vazquez's release raises questions about short-notice fighters' job security regardless of the circumstances they accept
- Fletcher's strong grappling output and 60 percent striking accuracy suggest he could attract interest from other major promotions
- The rapid turnover underlines how quickly the UFC acts on roster decisions following post-event results
