OSP Highlights Group of Fighters to Get Release from the UFC

October 14, 2024
2 weeks

Ovince Saint Preux never quite reached the top of the UFC’s light heavyweight division. But during a career that spanned 11 years, OSP carved out a memorable career that featured some real highs and rough lows. According to MMAfighting latest news, OSP was part of a large group of fighters who were removed from the UFC roster recently.

Fighters are removed because their contracts run out and the UFC chooses not to re-sign them or if the UFC chooses to cut someone loose early. OSP headlined that group recently. During his 11-year run in the UFC, OSP fought Jon Jones for the interim light heavyweight crown, losing by decision. OSP finished his UFC career with a 15-13 record.

During OSP’s UFC career, he won 11 of those fights via decision. His most impressive win came via knockout against current Bellator champion Corey Anderson. While OSP was a respected veteran, he most recently traded wins and losses over the past few years. He hadn’t been on an extended winning streak in some time.

But there was something fun about OSP. He was a capable grappler and striker. He started as a college football player at the University of Tennessee and went into combat sports after he couldn’t find work as a professional football player.

Other fighters released included Jarno Errens, Danyelle Wolf, Karl Williams, Victoria Leonardo, Brianna Fortino, Kaynan Kruschewsky, Da Woon Jung, Victor Altamirano, Ricky Glenn, and Brian Kelleher.

Winning Isn’t Enough to Keep Job

Karl Williams being on the unemployment line may seem strange at first. Williams is 3-1 as a heavyweight in the UFC, which is a division where the promotion doesn’t have a ton of depth right now. But the UFC CEO has always told the best MMA news site that he wanted fighters who look to finish fights.

All four of Williams’ fights in the UFC went the distance. While Williams often found himself in a dominant position, he didn’t have the grappling or ground-and-pound game to put his opponents away.

Williams struggled in his last fight, losing a decision to Jhonta Diniz. Diniz had major issues with wrestlers, and Williams didn’t choose to exploit that until the third round. Williams must show that he can stop his opponents before he gets another shot at the big time.Williams had previously fought in the PFL, which has a heavyweight division. There is a chance that he may land back with the PFL. There aren’t as many options for MMA fighters these days.

Since the PFL acquired Bellator, and ONE is moving away from having too many MMA fights on their events, there aren’t a lot of global brands anymore for veteran fighters to go. Williams will have to fix his perception issue if he wants to continue to fight.

Thanks for the Memories Brian Kelleher

Brian Kelleher is a solid veteran fighter who wasn’t afraid to serve as a gatekeeper for some of the top prospects coming into his weight division. While there was a time he was good for an upset or two, he hasn’t been that fighter recently.

Kelleher had lost four straight fights, and MMA latest updates show that he hadn’t looked quite like the fighter he was early in his career. His best win was a guillotine submission victory over Ode Osborne. During Kelleher’s career, he compiled an 8-9 record in the UFC.

Kelleher, 38, is likely done at the top level. However, he had a memorable career. He was 10-7, and people were starting to doubt he could climb the ladder. Kelleher then ran off seven straight wins and was able to parlay that success into a UFC contract.

Leonardo Looked the Part

Victoria Leonardo looked like she could be a real problem for fighters in the strawweight. She was big and strong. Leonardo looked like she also had a ground game that would serve her well at the top level.

But when Leonardo entered the UFC and started facing top prospects, it was a disaster. Leonardo’s striking game proved to be not up to snuff for a professional fighter. She took five knockout losses during her time with the UFC.

Leonardo also fought some tough competition, including future title challenger Manon Fiorot, and Erin Blanchfield who is a top contender for the championship as well.

Glenn Couldn’t Handle Increased Competition

Ricky Glenn hadn’t won in the UFC since 2001. In the years since then, Glenn hadn’t been the most active or dominant fighter. He was 0-3-1 in four fights since. While Glenn’s draw with Grant Dawson wasn’t a horrible result, he took a pair of knockouts after that fight. Glenn has 33 professional fights under his belt in his career. However, at age 35, unless he is needed for a miraculous, short-notice replacement, his time in the UFC is likely over.

Contender Series Puts Pressure on Fighters to Stay Active

There was a time in the UFC when The Ultimate Fighter reality show was the promotion’s star-making vehicle. However, over the past few years, Dana White’s Contender Series has been a quicker way for fighters to earn contracts.

This format, especially during this current season, is seen as the way fighters earn their spot in the UFC. While in the early seasons of the show, White seemed a little more stingy with contracts, the promotion has been handing them out more frequently recently.

While there has been some criticism of the UFC using this method to sign cheap talent instead of raiding other promotions for top talent, there is no denying that it is excellent drama. Fighters basically have a job interview where they have to fight for their spot.

It’s fun to watch. But there is more pressure on veteran fighters to continue to challenge themselves. A string of bad results could mean a fighter is sent to the side for a Contender’s Series competitor.

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By Dean McHugh.

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