UFC Releases Two Fighters Ahead of 2024

As the UFC wrapped up its final event of 2023 over the weekend, the promotion bid farewell to two more fighters in preparation for the upcoming year. According to X account UFC Roster Tracker, which monitors the UFC roster and updates on additions and removals, two fighters have been removed from the roster, following the release of four fighters just two weeks prior.

The latest removals from the UFC roster are Parker Porter and Shannon Ross. However, it's important to note that being removed from the UFC roster doesn't necessarily imply that a fighter has been released; it could also signify the completion of a fighter's contract without renewal.

Parker Porter, who boasted a record of 4-3 inside the octagon, recently faced a setback with a first-round knockout loss to Junior Tafa at UFC Singapore in August. Prior to that, Porter secured a first-round TKO victory over Braxton Smith, which marked the final fight of his contract.

Porter's UFC journey began with a first-round knockout loss to Chris Daukaus in August 2022 at UFC 252. He then went on to claim three consecutive victories against Josh Parisian, Chase Sherman, and Alan Baudot before encountering defeats against Jailton Almeida and Justin Tafa.

Meanwhile, flyweight competitor Shannon Ross was removed from the roster following a second-round TKO loss to Hyun Sung Park on December 9. Ross struggled in the UFC, going 0-3 with losses to Jesus Aguilar at UFC 290 and Kleydson Rodrigues at UFC 284.

Ross's journey to the UFC was marked by adversity, as he endured a series of medical challenges, including a ruptured appendix, septicemia, and blood poisoning, following his fight against Vinicius Salvador on the Contender Series. Despite his impressive resilience, Ross was unable to secure a victory in the UFC, leading to his departure from the promotion.

As the UFC looks ahead to 2024, these roster changes reflect the ongoing evolution of the promotion's talent pool and the competitive nature of the sport.