Three more fighters have been let go from the Bellator MMA roster, including one coming off a win — and all three were in action this past weekend at Bellator 262.
MMA Fighting was first to report the news. That increases the company’s recent roster cuts to over twenty, or even more if you go back to May. In May, the promotion cut a number of names, including Zach Freeman, A.J. Mathews, Mandy Bohm, and Bobby Voelker, with 15 fighters dropped in total.
Just over a week ago, the company handed pink slips to another 19 athletes. That round of cuts definitely raised some eyebrows, as the likes of Tywan “Air” Claxton, Bec Rawlings, Khonry Gracie, ex-light heavyweight champ Liam McGeary, and former featherweight champ Daniel Straus were shown the door.
This week, heavyweight Matt Mitrione is on the unemployment line. One of Bellator’s big free agent signings several years back, the former UFC fighter picked up a big win over Fedor Emelianenko in 2017. However after being finished quickly by Tyrell Fortune at Bellator 262, Mitrione has been shown the door. He’s 0-4 (1NC) in his past five fights, two of which have seen him upset over accidental headbutts that were not called.
Also released following Bellator 262 are Ronny Markes and Adil Benjilany. Markes dropped his second fight in the promotion against Said Sowma Friday, leaving him 0-2 under the Bellator banner. Surprisingly, Benjilany was coming off a win, but requested his release due to inactivity, according to teammate Belal Muhammad.
