UFC Vegas 122 ended several UFC careers.
Plus the retirement years of longtime veterans Gerald Meerschaert and Niko Priceformer lightweight prospect Ismael Bonfim has been officially cut from the UFC roster after the loss Francisco Prado (h/t MMA fight). Not only did Bonfim lose by first round knockout (see it here)but so is he lost a whopping eight pounds.
Ismael Bonfim is the older brother of the top middleweight contender, Gabriel Bonfimbut their careers develop in very different directions. While Gabriel is riding a solid winning streak and recently defeated the former champion Belal MuhammadIshmael is broken. The Brazilian finisher entered the UFC with an 18-3 record and deleted Terrance McKinney star debutbut he has struggled ever since. He won just once over the next six bouts, ending each loss and missing weight three times in the process.
Now he’s taking his talents elsewhere. Before release Bonfim posted on Instagram to let fans know that his career is far from over.
“There are no excuses, no shame and certainly no reason to give up,” Bonfim wrote in Portuguese. “We got this far by going the hardest way, facing battles few know about, overcoming fears, breaking barriers, and fighting battles that go far beyond what happens inside the Octagon. The outcome of a battle does not determine a warrior’s worth, and a loss will never be enough to erase the entire story we’ve built.”
“I keep my head up, my heart at peace and my faith stronger than ever,” he continued. “Because those who know where they came from, all they’ve been through, and how much they’ve had to fight to get here, don’t give up because of one result. My story doesn’t end here. God is still writing the next chapters and I trust Him completely. All glory and honor to God!”