UFC Removes Veteran Fighter Following Cancellation of Contest Due to Opponent's Weight Mismanagement
Montana De La Rosa, who was slated to face Luana Carolina on March 1, found herself unceremoniously removed from the UFC's roster on March 20. This came as a shock, considering Carolina had pulled out due to weight-cutting complications and missed weight twice in her last three fights. It seems Montana struggled to impress UFC bigwigs enough to secure a spot.
Fighting droughts and questionable decisions have become a recurring theme for the 30-year-old, who broke a three-fight losing streak in a make-or-break bout against Andrea Lee in June 2024. The split decision win was a welcome reprieve for both ladies, who had been on grueling losing streaks. However, it wasn't enough to keep Montana on the UFC's esteemed roster.
Lee, fresh off a fourth consecutive loss, also found herself cut, further fueling suspicions about the UFC's selection criteria. Montana's 13-9-1 record and 6-5-1 UFC record are far from jaw-dropping, but the timing of her dismissal after a win leaves a sour taste.
According to rumors, Montana rose to fame on The Ultimate Fighter Season 26 in 2017, where she won her opening bout against Ariel Beck via D'arce choke but lost to the eventual champion, Nicco Montano, in the semifinals. Montana continued her MMA journey, winning a few more fights and losing a few more, including a unanimous decision to Lee in June 2019.
As Montana navigates her newfound free agency, it's likely the Professional Fighters League will show interest. With big-name stars like Dakota Ditcheva in their ranks, Montana might find the perfect opportunity to reclaim her glory.
Now let's shift gears to the exciting UFC London fight card. The event, poised somewhere between a PPV and an Apex event, features Leon Edwards, who's back in the Octagon for the first time since his title loss to Belal Muhammad. Edwards takes on Sean Brady, with the winner seemingly on track to challenge for the title in the near future.
Here's a sneak peek at the entire card:
Main Card (Starting at 3:00 PM ET):- Welterweight Bout: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady- Light Heavyweight Bout: Jan Błachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg- Welterweight Bout: Gunnar Nelson vs. Kevin Holland- Women's Strawweight Bout: Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara- Lightweight Bout: Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris Duncan- Featherweight Bout: Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan Charrière
Preliminary Card (Starting at 12:00 PM ET):- Lightweight Bout: Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla- Flyweight Bout: Lone'er Kavanagh vs. Felipe dos Santos- Heavyweight Bout: Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin- Middleweight Bout: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andre Pulyaev- Women's Strawweight Bout: Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar- Bantamweight Bout: Nathan Fletcher vs. Caolan Loughran- Lightweight Bout: Guram Kutateladze vs. Kaue Fernandes
- Montana De La Rosa, recently released from the UFC's roster, might find an interesting rematch opportunity in the Professional Fighters League, given their roster includes big-name stars like Dakota Ditcheva.
- Andrea Lee, who lost a split decision to Montana De La Rosa in June 2024 and subsequently found herself cut from the UFC, may be seeking a rematch as both ladies navigate free agency.
- As the UFC London card approaches, the flyweight division maintains its intrigue with potential contenders, including Montana De La Rosa, whose upcoming ventures are worth keeping an eye on.
