Max Griffin released by UFC after third consecutive defeat ends nine-year run

Max Griffin’s nine-year association with the UFC is over after the promotion released the 40-year-old welterweight veteran on Thursday, confirming what a run of three consecutive losses had made increasingly likely.

Griffin, who owns a 33-fight professional record, last competed at UFC Vegas 116 in April, where he dropped a unanimous decision to Victor Valenzuela. That defeat was his third in a row — following losses to Chris Curtis and Michael Chiesa — and his fifth in his past seven outings, leaving him with a final UFC record of 8-11.

“I have been officially cut from the UFC,” Griffin said in a video posted to social media. “First off, I want to thank UFC for all these years. Ten years, mind you, in the fight business. But my shit ain’t over. I still want to fight. My last few fights have been some shoddy decisions. It’s the name of the game, baby. It’s business, man. Yeah, it’s rough, but it is what it is. I still got it.”

Despite the difficult ending, Griffin’s UFC career was defined more by resilience than by finishes. Of his 19 fights inside the octagon, 14 went to the judges’ scorecards, and he was stopped by knockout or submission just twice — a testament to the durability that kept him competitive at welterweight for the better part of a decade.

His best stretch in the promotion saw him win four of five fights, with notable victories over former interim UFC welterweight champion Carlos Condit and perennial contender Tim Means. He also holds a 2018 decision win over Mike Perry, who has since become a prominent figure in bare-knuckle boxing.

Griffin, who signed with the UFC in 2016, indicated he has no intention of retiring and is looking to continue his career elsewhere.