The UFC has released two fighters from its roster: Cameron Smotherman, who went 1-3 during his time with the promotion, and Thiago Moises, who compiled an 8-8 UFC record.
The UFC parted ways with lightweight contenders Cameron Smotherman and Thiago Moises on June 18, 2026, releasing both fighters from the roster in a dual roster cut.
Smotherman, a 28-year-old orthodox striker from the United States who trains out of Metro Fight Club, leaves the promotion with a 1-3 UFC record. His overall professional mark stands at 12-6. Known as "The Baby-Faced Killa," Smotherman generated an impressive 5.1 significant strikes landed per minute during his time in the octagon, though a striking accuracy of 39 percent and a lack of takedown or submission output ultimately left him unable to string together the wins needed to hold his spot on the roster.
Moises, a 31-year-old Brazilian fighting out of American Top Team, departs after a far longer run with the organization. The orthodox lightweight compiled an 8-8 UFC record against a broader professional mark of 19-10. Standing 175 cm tall with a 178 cm reach, Moises was a well-rounded threat who averaged 1.31 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, complementing a 42 percent striking accuracy. Despite flashes of quality across 16 octagon appearances, he was unable to consistently break into the upper echelon of the lightweight division.
Why it matters
- Smotherman's release ends a brief UFC run in which he never found consistent footing despite strong striking volume numbers.
- Moises spent years as a credible lightweight gatekeeper, and his departure signals a roster refresh in a historically deep division.
- Both fighters are still in the prime or near-prime of their careers at 28 and 31, making them likely targets for other promotions seeking proven UFC veterans.
