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Dana White ignored 24-fight UFC veteran’s one request by releasing him in latest roster purge

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated Feb 11, 2026 4:04 PM ET

The UFC apparently had no time for sentiment when it came to this fighter.

News of the latest purge emerged this week, with three athletes being removed from the UFC roster.

Two were coming off fights at last Saturday’s UFC Vegas 113 event, with both Javid Basharat and Alex Morono no longer being under the MMA leader’s promotional banner, along with Lucas Almeida.

Basharat’s release came as a surprise given his 15-2 professional record. The 30-year-old had his hand raised this past weekend after accepting a short-notice fight against a replacement opponent who came in overweight.

The decision not to re-sign Morono has also raised eyebrows, but for a different reason.

Alex Morono requested a retirement fight in the UFC before being let go

Morono was hospitalized after losing to Daniil Donchenko on February 7. He somehow survived to hear the final bell but exited the cage significantly worse for wear in what marked his 24th appearance inside the Octagon.

Despite that result coming in the last bout on his contract, ‘The Great White’ had not planned for that to be his farewell.

In a statement on social media after his fourth straight defeat, Morono requested a retirement fight and expressed confidence that the UFC would grant him that wish.

“This war horse has some miles on him for damn sure,” Morono wrote on Instagram.

“If this was my last ride, I’ll go out with my head held high. In a perfect world, my next fight will be my last. The UFC has been my home for the last decade. Nowhere I’d rather fight. Nowhere I’d rather retire. I’m confident and hopeful they’ll give me one last dance.

“It’s been a hell of a career. Genuine thank you for all of the support over the years. Stay tuned for what’s next. Death or victory,” he added.

It has not taken long for that plan to be shut down by Dana White and his promotion, with the 35-year-old Texan quickly removed from the roster after his latest setback.

Morono recorded victories over a number of prominent names during his UFC tenure, including Donald Cerrone and Mickey Gall.

Jon Anik would cut 150 UFC fighters if he was Dana White

If the UFC’s lead commentator had his way, another 147 fighters would join Morono, Basharat, and Almeida on the outside.

During a January interview on the Spinnin Backfist MMA Show, Jon Anik revealed he would cut a huge portion of the UFC roster if he could change one thing about the promotion.

“I think our biggest challenge is the fact that our events are way too long,” Anik said. “We should have 10 or 11 fights instead of 15.

“Even if you wanted to make (events) five or six hours instead of eight, I’d be okay with it. We ask a lot of our fans…eight hours, times 41 Saturdays, right?

“We have a lot of masters to serve, right? Television partners in different countries…a roster north of 600, getting 50 fighters signed on the Contender Series every year, which I think is less than ideal,” he added.

“If I could affect change in one way — and perhaps it’s selfish ’cause I’m a broadcaster that doesn’t understand how we do back-to-back Super Bowls every time we crack a mic — I would cut 150 fighters off the roster. I would do 10 fights a card and just make it a much more ingestible, palatable sporting event.”

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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