The UFC is widely regarded as one of the premier organizations in combat sports, and making it onto its roster is a dream for many amateur fighters. However, earning a spot isn’t easy. UFC President Dana White is known for being extremely selective about who joins and who stays in the promotion. While major stars like Conor McGregor and Jon Jones have remained with the UFC despite controversial incidents, lesser-known fighters are often held to stricter standards.
An example of the UFC’s tough stance is the case of Nikolay Veretennikov. After losing to Austin Vanderford via TKO in the second round at UFC Fight Night 252, Veretennikov shoved his opponent, an act of aggression that led Dana White to impose a lifetime ban on him and remove him from the roster.
❌ Fighter removed: Pedro Falcao
— UFC Roster Watch (@UFCRosterWatch) April 24, 2025
Recently, the UFC also released four fighters: Cortavious Romious, Pedro Falcao, Caolan Loughran, and Lucas Alexander. Romious and Falcao were let go after failing to secure a win, each posting 0-2 records in the promotion. Loughran, despite achieving two wins via unanimous decision out of his four UFC fights, was also released. Lucas Alexander was cut after losing three out of his four bouts and missing weight, having only competed four times since 2022.
While Dana White is known to reward strong performances, he is equally decisive when fighters underperform. On the other hand, the UFC recently added new talent by signing Aaron Pico and Kyoji Horiguchi. Horiguchi, who holds a 19-2-0 record, joined the UFC after vacating his RIZIN Flyweight World Championship title. He previously fought in the UFC from 2013 to 2016, where he lost to then-champion Demetrious Johnson.
Aaron Pico, a featherweight standout, also made headlines by signing with the UFC after parting ways with the PFL. Pico has won nine out of his last ten fights, with his only recent loss coming against Jeremy Kennedy. He announced his UFC signing on Instagram, expressing his excitement after years of hard work and dedication.
In another development, Dana White imposed a 20% salary deduction on Giga Chikadze after the fighter missed weight ahead of his bout at UFC Kansas City. Chikadze came in at 147 pounds—one pound over the non-title fight limit. His opponent, David Onama, successfully made weight, leading to Chikadze being penalized with a significant purse deduction.
Ahead of his fight, Chikadze had shared that facing an unranked opponent like Onama was a strategic investment for him, expecting the UFC to reward his efforts afterward. His focus remains on becoming a champion, emphasizing that he isn’t just fighting for paychecks.
As the Kansas City event approached, Chikadze remained determined, ready to give his all in the Octagon. Meanwhile, fans continue to discuss the UFC’s latest roster changes and disciplinary actions, reflecting the high stakes and tough environment under Dana White’s leadership.