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          Bryan Battle released by UFC after back-to-back weight misses

          • Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff WriterAug 21, 2025, 08:35 AM
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              Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
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          The UFC has released Bryan Battle, a former winner of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series, from its roster after back-to-back weight misses.

          Battle (12-2), a 30-year-old out of North Carolina, was supposed to face Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC 319 last weekend in Chicago, but the bout was canceled after Battle missed the 186-pound middleweight limit by 4 pounds. Battle missed weight despite moving up from the welterweight division before UFC 319. He previously missed weight for a 170-pound contest in December.

          UFC officials confirmed Battle's release to ESPN on Wednesday.

          Battle won the middleweight tournament in the 29th season of "The Ultimate Fighter" in 2021 and held a UFC record of 7-1. In addition to missing weight twice in his past two appearances, he also weighed in heavy for a fight against Gabe Green in May 2023.