Cut despite the wins: UFC fighter drops bombshell after getting axed at 5-1
· Yahoo Sports
Daniel Marcos has spoken out for the first time since his release from the UFC.
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The 18-1 bantamweight was one of four fighters let go in Dana White’s latest round of cuts. Fans have been left stunned by Daniel Marcos’ departure due to the fact that he went 5-1 (1NC) during his three-year run with MMA’s premier promotion.
Daniel Marcos rebounded from the first loss of his career by submitting Miles Johns at UFC Vegas 111 back in November.
That was the final bout on the Peruvian’s contract with the organisation, though he had expected to continue with the promotion.
Instead, after months of silence from the UFC, he found out he’d been released. Marcos claims there were no conversations about extending his deal during that period.
“Since my last fight in November, I did exactly what was asked of me,” he wrote in Portuguese on Instagram.
“I finished my opponent, and since December, I’ve stayed ready to compete again. I spent months training, doing camp, and waiting for an opportunity. A negotiation never came; a renewal never came.
“I just kept waiting because I trusted that the moment would come. In the end, the decision was that they would not continue with me, and to this day, I don’t have a clear explanation as to why.
“I can’t control those decisions, but I can control how I respond to them. I am grateful to every person who has supported me along this path, especially those who have been there in both the victories and the difficult moments.
“My mindset doesn’t change. I keep training, I keep growing, and I remain ready to compete. To everyone who follows me and believes in me: this doesn’t end here. I am hungrier than ever, and I am prepared to prove it anywhere and against anyone.”
Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty ImagesDaniel Marcos: A look back at his UFC victories
Daniel Marcos made his way into the UFC after impressing on Dana White’s Contender Series back in September 2022.
‘Soncora’ opened his Octagon career with a second-round knockout of Saimon Oliveira at UFC 283, making an immediate impact. He then followed that up with a split decision win over Davey Grant, a well-liked figure among fans. However, his next bout against Aori Qileng was ruled a no-contest after an accidental groin kick.
After that setback, Marcos responded by earning decision victories over both John Castañeda and Adrian Yanez, pushing his record to 17-0 at the time.
Marcos’ first professional loss came against Montel Jackson at UFC Des Moines in May 2025. Even so, he was given another opportunity and responded by defeating Miles Johns later that year.
Despite getting back into the win column, Daniel Marcos won’t be continuing his journey with the UFC into 2026.
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