Ismael Bonfim is no longer with the UFC after a disastrous weekend in Las Vegas.
The 30-year-old Brazilian was removed from the promotion’s roster following a first-round knockout loss to Francisco Prado on the preliminary portion of UFC Vegas 122 at the Meta APEX, a match he was 7.5 pounds overweight for.
That was Bonfim’s fourth straight stoppage loss in the UFC, in addition to having officially missed weight twice and having one fight cancelled due to weight-cut issues. “Marreta” Bonfim walks away with a promotional record of 2-5, a stark contrast to his 18-3 record going into his debut after he secured a deal through Dana White’s Contender Series.
Bonfim released a statement on social media Sunday, prior to the news of his departure from the UFC, in which he vowed “my story doesn’t end here.”
“There are no excuses, no shame, and certainly no reason to give up,” Bonfim wrote in Portuguese. “We made it this far by taking the hardest road, facing battles that few people know about, overcoming fears, breaking barriers, and fighting battles that go far beyond what happens inside the octagon. 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.”
“I keep my head held high, my heart at peace, and my faith stronger than ever,” he continued. “Because those who know where they came from, everything they’ve been through, and how hard they’ve had to fight to get here don’t give up because of one result. My story doesn’t end here. God is still writing the next chapters, and I trust Him completely. All honor and all glory be to God!”