In a few of the MMA news sites, both removed from the rankings but not officially announced. Not suprised though they have looked very average lately and on big money per fight. Both of them tend to turtle up or run with no defence as soon as they get hit like they just don't want to be there if the opponent doesn't roll over for them.
Both guys lose a lot and are inconsistent but can just as easily beat a top guy on a good night. It's not a good look for the credibility of the division. So there's that, cutting costs and the fact that they prob have some big plans for/are looking to rebuild the HW division. I'm sad to see both gone. There's a lot less worthy heavyweights and fighters in general who could have been axed instead.
I thought maybe they might hang onto Reem, but he also was getting big dollars. I was then thinking so why does Arlovski keep his job even when he is on losses. Maybe they go off fighting spirit. Andrei even when hit just bites down and fires back with no quit. and go out on his sword. The last few when Santos even gets touched on the chin he literally starts running with hands up like he is being assaulted and is calling for help. Reem did similar the last fight so maybe they seen they can't sell these guys or have them being promoted as heavyweight monsters on big cash with them actions knowing they no longer have the instinct to be challengers. I used to look forward to cards with either of them on it knowing there would be action. They are just shells now. Hope they carry on as trainers or something, they both have always come across as respectful guys.
Can’t complain with them cutting JDS, he’s been KO’d 4 times in a row. In each fight the second he gets tagged he looks helpless. The Overeem move is a bit strange though, yeah he has a tendency to get KO’d but until recently he was a consistently winning fighter. He’s still capable of being a mid-tier HW for a couple more years. I wonder if they were just trying dump his salary as he is notably one of the highest paid fighters in the UFC.
At one point these two fighters were legends. Dos Santos has a victory over a younger Miocic and a Prime Cain Velasquez, and Overeem has a pretty loaded resume and fight career against All time greats.
And he kept beating top(-ish) guys. It´s insane. Well, the heavyweight division in the UFC is ****, but he still did really well considering his age and the fact that his chin is completely gone.