UFC Cuts Promising Fighter After Insane Weigh-In Miss and KO Loss
The UFC has removed Brazilian lightweight Ismael Bonfim from its roster after he missed weight by 7.5 pounds and was knocked out in the first round at UFC Vegas 122.
MMA Fighting first reported the release on Monday, Oct. 12, and Sherdog followed on Tuesday. Neither the UFC nor Bonfim’s team has commented publicly on the move.
Ismael Bonfim Release Key Facts
Detail | Info |
|---|---|
Fighter | Ismael Bonfim, 30 |
Division | Lightweight |
Event | UFC Vegas 122, Oct. 10, 2026, Meta APEX, Las Vegas |
Weigh-in | 163.5 pounds (156-pound limit) |
Penalty | 25% of purse to Francisco Prado |
Result | Lost to Prado by TKO (punches), R1, 4:23 |
Final UFC record | 2-5 |
Losing streak | Four straight, all stoppages |
Status | Removed from UFC roster, reported Oct. 12 |
How Big Was Bonfim’s Weight Miss?
Bonfim weighed 163.5 pounds at Friday’s weigh-ins for his lightweight bout against Francisco Prado, MMA Fighting reported. The limit for a non-title lightweight fight is 156 pounds, so he came in 7.5 pounds over. Prado weighed 155.
The bout went ahead at a catchweight on the prelims of Saturday’s UFC Vegas 122 card at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. Bonfim forfeited 25% of his purse to Prado. Two other fighters on the card, Ribeiro and Souza, also missed weight and each forfeited 20%.
The Fight With Francisco Prado
Prado finished Bonfim with ground-and-pound punches at 4:23 of the first round, according to Sherdog’s play-by-play. It was Bonfim’s fourth straight stoppage loss and dropped his UFC record to 2-5.
Bonfim’s History With the Scale
It was not Bonfim’s first weight problem in the UFC. MMA Fighting counts it as his third weight-related issue in the promotion: two official misses and one canceled fight. His 2023 bout with Vinc Pichel was called off over his weight, and he missed weight before his November 2025 knockout loss to Chris Padilla, according to FightBanter.
Ismael Bonfim’s UFC Weight Issues
Year | Bout | Weight issue | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
2023 | vs. Vinc Pichel | 3.5 pounds over | Bout canceled |
2025 | vs. Chris Padilla | 5 pounds over | Lost by knockout |
2026 | vs. Francisco Prado | 7.5 pounds over | Lost by TKO, released |
From Contender Series to Cut
Bonfim earned his UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series and entered the promotion 18-3. He made a strong first impression in 2023 when he knocked out Terrance McKinney with a flying knee in his debut, FightBanter reported. His younger brother, Gabriel Bonfim, is a ranked UFC welterweight scheduled to face Sean Brady in a Fight Night main event next month, according to Sports Illustrated.
What Bonfim Said After the Loss
Bonfim addressed the loss on social media on Sunday, before his release was reported. “There are no excuses, no shame, and certainly no reason to give up,” he wrote, as translated by MMA Fighting. “The outcome of a battle does not define a warrior’s worth, and a loss will never be enough to erase the entire story we’ve built.”
“My story doesn’t end here,” he added. “God is still writing the next chapters, and I trust Him completely.”
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.