TUF 32 veteran Nathan Fletcher has been cut from the UFC after a 1-2 record, including a quick 62-second TKO loss to Rinya Nakamura. The 28-year-old former Cage Warriors standout, with an 8-1 record entering UFC featuring seven stoppages, also had a submission win and a split decision loss. His release follows recent UFC Vegas 113 cuts. This affects bantamweight depth, removing a high-finishing prospect. Fletcher likely heads back to Cage Warriors; expect him to rebuild there amid UFC's roster trimming.
Nathan Fletcher, the 28-year-old bantamweight who rose to prominence on The Ultimate Fighter 32, has been released by the UFC following a 1-2 run inside the octagon, the organization confirmed as part of a wave of roster cuts following UFC Vegas 113.
Fletcher arrived in the UFC with considerable momentum. The Liverpool-born fighter, representing Next Generation MMA, carried a strong finishing pedigree into the promotion and posted a verified record of 9-3-0 overall. Standing five-foot-seven with a 70-inch reach, the orthodox striker compiled an impressive striking accuracy of 60 percent during his time in the promotion, landing 3.44 significant strikes per minute while also demonstrating well-rounded grappling with 3.53 takedowns per 15 minutes. His UFC stint included a submission victory and a split decision defeat, but it was a 62-second TKO loss to Rinya Nakamura that proved particularly damaging to his standing on the roster.
Why it matters
- Fletcher's release thins the bantamweight division of a high-finishing prospect with genuine regional pedigree
- The cut is part of a broader UFC roster trim following Vegas 113, signaling continued pressure on fighters to string wins together quickly
- At just 28 years old, Fletcher retains significant development runway outside the promotion
- Cage Warriors, where he built his reputation before the UFC call-up, represents a natural landing spot for a rebuild
Fletcher's exit reflects the unforgiving pace of UFC roster management, where even fighters with elite finishing ability and technical versatility can find themselves on the outside after a difficult three-fight stretch. His combination of striking output and takedown activity suggests he remains a credible threat at the regional and European promotional level, and a return to familiar surroundings could allow him to reassert himself among the division's contenders outside the UFC.
