UFC roster cuts: Promotion closes out April with nearly half-dozen releases

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) made some significant changes to its existing roster for the month of April, parting ways with five underperforming athletes while adding seven new combatants for 2024 and beyond. Keep in mind that fighters no longer under contract may have set sail for a variety of reasons, including (but not limited to) being cut, finishing out an existing deal, opting for greener pastures, or retirement.

Here’s the April 2024 list reported by UFC Roster Watch on Twitter:

Removed:

Fighter | UFC Record | Last Fight
Anton Turkalj | 0-4 | Technical knockout loss to Ibo Aslan
Cynthia Calvillo | 6-6-1 | Decision loss to Lupita Godinez
Danny Henry | 2-2 | Submission loss to Makwan Amirkhani
Val Woodburn | 0-2 | Decision loss to Oban Elliott
Genaro Valdez | 0-3 | Decision loss to Evan Elder

Added:

Fighter | MMA Record | Last Fight
Dylan Budka | 7-3 | Technical knockout loss to Cesar Almeida
Jean Matsumoto | 15-0 | Submission win over Dan Argueta
Germaine de Randamie | 10-5 | Decision loss to Norma Dumont
Chris Padilla | 14-6 | Submission win over James Llontop
Puja Tomar | 8-4 | Technical knockout win over Anastasia Feofanova
Jhonata Diniz | 7-0 | Knockout win over Austen Lane
James Llontop | 14-3 | Submission loss to Chris Padilla

Several names (on both lists) have also competed on Dana White’s “Contender Series.”

Of the recently added fighters, the only combatant yet to compete inside the Octagon is Puja Tomar. The Indian “Cyclone” battles UFC sophomore Rayanne dos Santos as part of the upcoming UFC Louisville event on June 8 in Kentucky.

Expect more roster cuts (and additions) in the month of May.