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Thomas Almeida, Emily Whitmire among 5 fighters no longer on UFC roster

Five fighters are no longer on the UFC roster, including a former bantamweight contender.

Multiple people with knowledge of the releases recently informed MMA Junkie of the roster moves but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion hasn’t made an official announcement. The roster changes came to light after the fighters were moved to the “former fighters” section of the UFC’s website (h/t UFC Roster Watch).

Check out the recent UFC departures below. The roster moves, unless explicitly noted, are not necessarily a “cut.” The UFC may have elected not to re-sign certain fighters who were at the end of their contracts.

Thomas Almeida

Age: 30

Record: 22-5

UFC record: 5-5

At one point pegged by many as the next big thing at 135 pounds, Thomas Almeida departs the UFC on a four-fight losing streak. The skid came after a 5-1 start to his promotional tenure. While in the UFC, Almeida defeated Brad Pickett and Yves Jabouin among others. Still only 30, Almeida is hopeful a win or two outside of the promotion will bring him back.

MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun confirmed Almeida’s departure with someone with knowledge of the situation Saturday.

Emily Whitmire

Age: 30

Record: 4-5

UFC record: 2-4

A cast-member on “The Ultimate Fighter,” Season 26, Emily Whitmire lost her promotional debut to Gillian Robertson on the undercard of the season’s finale. After back-to-back wins over Jamie Moyle and Aleksandra Albu in her next two fights, Whitmire lost three straight fights prior to her UFC exit.

MMA Junkie’s Nolan King confirmed Whitmire’s departure with someone with knowledge of the situation Sunday.

Mike Rodriguez

Age: 32

Record: 11-7

UFC record: 2-5 with one no contest

Boston’s Mike Rodriguez burst onto the national radar when he flattened Jamelle Jones with a contract-earning flying knee on “Dana White’s Contender Series,” Season 1 in 2017. Through the span of a eight-fight promotional tenure, Rodriguez produced mixed results. His UFC wins came against Adam Milstead and Marcin Prachnio. He exits the UFC on a three-fight losing skid, including a controversial defeat to Ed Herman in September 2020.

MMA Junkie’s Nolan King recently confirmed Rodriguez’s departure with someone with knowledge of the situation.

Antonio Arroyo

Age: 32

Record: 9-5

UFC record: 0-3

A multitime Dana White’s Contender Series winner, Antonio Arroyo earned his UFC deal in July 2019. Three losses to Andre Muniz, Deron Winn, and most recently Joaquin Buckley led to his UFC departure.

MMA Fighting reported news of Arroyo’s departure Saturday.

Sarah Alpar

Age: 30

Record: 9-6

UFC record: 0-2

A former LFA champion, Sarah Alpar entered the UFC after a 2019 win on Dana White’s Contender Series. However, she’d come up short in both of her UFC appearances. After a TKO loss to Jessica-Rose Clark in her debut, Alpar started a Go Fund Me to help with finances. The account made headlines when YouTuber-turned-boxing-star Jake Paul and Triller donated a total of $30,000 to the fund. Weeks later, she’d lose a unanimous decision to Erin Blanchfield.

MMA Junkie’s Nolan King confirmed Alpar’s departure with someone with knowledge of the situation Saturday.

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