WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 12: President and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Dana White is seen during the UFC Freedom 250 Press Conference at the Lincoln Memorial on June 12, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
The UFC just released three fighters. One of them had a long UFC run and owns an interesting distinction related to UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. Let’s talk MMA.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Fighter: Thiago Moises, lightweight
- UFC tenure: 2018–2026, 16 Octagon appearances
- Record: 19-10 overall, 8-8 in the UFC
- Why cut: Three losses in his last four, including back-to-back defeats
- Claim to fame: One of only two fighters to take down Islam Makhachev in the UFC
Why Did The UFC Release Thiago Moises?
Moises is only 31, but he is on a two-fight losing streak and he’s lost three of his last four fights.
The Brazilian was quietly removed from the roster after going 8-8 across 16 Octagon trips, with his final two bouts ending in a Round 1 KO loss to Jared Gordon and an April split-decision defeat to Gauge Young. At lightweight, where the middle tier is stacked with killers, that kind of skid is usually enough to force a move. Reports note the UFC could still re-sign him down the road.
What Is Thiago Moises’ Connection To Islam Makhachev?
Moises is one of only two fighters to score a takedown against Makhachev. The other is top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan. Moises and Makhachev clashed in 2021 before Makhachev began his title runs at 155 and 170 pounds.
Moises lost that 2021 main event by fourth-round rear-naked choke, but he became Makhachev’s first ranked win and one of just two men to put him on the mat in the UFC. That distinction has only grown as Makhachev climbed, vacating the lightweight title now held by Ilia Topuria before claiming welterweight gold. Few fighters can say they shared the Octagon with the current pound-for-pound king and made him work.
What’s Next For Thiago Moises?
Moises could land with PFL or even on a future MVP MMA card, which is likely in the works.
At 31 with real name value and a résumé built on a three-fight win streak that once earned him a Makhachev main event, Moises is the type who tends to land on his feet. The PFL is an obvious suitor, and a spot on a future MVP MMA card would fit a fighter with his recognition. This reads less like an ending than a reset for a career that quietly started before he turned 18.