UFC Stops Renewing Contracts Outside Top 15

UFC fighters ranked outside the top 15 are reportedly no longer getting new contracts before their final bouts, according to bantamweight Elijah Smith.

Smith, who came into the promotion through Dana White's Contender Series and went 4-0 with three finishes, told Ariel Helwani he was surprised when his camp attempted to renew his deal before his win over Davey Grant last weekend in Las Vegas. The 23-year-old learned from his manager that the UFC had stopped extending deals for fighters outside the rankings, MMA Mania first reported.

"They're not doing anybody's contract that's outside of the top 15," Smith said, describing what his manager told him about the new policy.

What The Policy Shift Means For UFC Fighters

The bantamweight said he expected a contract extension before his final bout under his existing deal, which had been standard practice in the past. Instead, Smith fought Grant without any new terms in place despite his unbeaten record and finishing rate. He speculated the promotion might be trimming roster size or cutting costs, though he noted uncertainty about whether the approach applied across all weight classes or just bantamweight.

For years the UFC drew criticism for aggressively re-signing fighters mid-contract, with those who refused sometimes facing fewer bookings or tougher matchups. The new approach appears to flip that script, leaving fighters outside the rankings to fight out their deals and enter free agency whether the promotion wants them back or not.

Smith completed his contract against Grant at a UFC event in Las Vegas and now heads into free agency.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Free agency the new norm? ‘They’re not doing anyone’s contract outside top 15’