Ivan Erslan is no longer part of the UFC roster after his first victory in the octagon
Ivan Erslan is no longer a UFC fighter, although only a few days earlier he recorded his first victory in the world’s strongest MMA organization. According to a report by the specialized outlet MMA Fighting, Erslan was removed from the UFC roster after appearing at the UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Costa event, held on May 16, 2026, in Las Vegas. The news is especially unusual because the Croatian light heavyweight defeated Tuco Tokkos at that event by unanimous decision, with scores of 29-28 on all three judges’ scorecards. According to data from the UFC and UFCStats, Erslan’s professional record after that fight stands at 15 wins, six losses and one no contest. For now, the UFC has not published a detailed public explanation for such a decision, so it remains unclear whether this was a matter of his contract expiring, the promoter’s decision not to continue the cooperation, or a broader roster reshuffle.
A victory that was not enough to stay
On May 16 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Erslan closed the opening part of the program in the light heavyweight division, up to 93 kilograms, with a fight against Tuco Tokkos. According to the UFC’s official report on the preliminary portion of the event, Erslan earned his first victory in the octagon after three rounds of a tough and competitive fight. MMA Fighting stated in the event results that Erslan won by unanimous decision, 29-28, 29-28 and 29-28. That ended a streak of three losses in the UFC, which had marked the beginning of his run in the world’s best-known MMA promotion. Despite that, according to a subsequent report by the same outlet, Erslan was among the fighters who a few days later were no longer listed as part of the UFC roster.
Such a development shows how contract decisions in the UFC are often separate from the immediate result of the most recent fight. In practice, fighters can find themselves outside the roster even after a victory if the contract has expired, if the promotion does not see a long-term sporting or commercial interest, or if a broader reduction in the number of active competitors is being carried out. In Erslan’s case, there is currently no officially confirmed explanation that would clarify all the circumstances. What has been confirmed by the available data is that Erslan finished his appearance in Las Vegas with a victory, and that MMA Fighting reported on May 21, 2026, that he was no longer part of the UFC list of fighters. The same report stated that his opponent Tuco Tokkos also left the UFC, after being removed from the roster following the loss.
Four UFC appearances and a 1-3 record
Erslan’s UFC journey lasted four appearances. He made his debut on September 28, 2024, at the UFC Fight Night event in Paris, where he lost to Ion Cuțelaba by split decision after three rounds. According to reports by specialized MMA media, that bout was very close, and the judges’ scorecards showed how tight the decision was. In May 2025, Erslan appeared at UFC 315 against Navajo Stirling and lost by unanimous decision. A third consecutive defeat followed in September 2025 at UFC Perth, when Jimmy Crute defeated him by rear-naked choke in the first round.
The victory over Tokkos was therefore important for Erslan’s position. According to UFCalendar data, that appearance brought him his first UFC victory and concluded his record in the promotion at 1-3. In his broader professional record, UFCStats and other specialized databases list him at 15-6 with one no contest. UFCStats’ statistical data also state that Erslan in the UFC landed an average of 2.53 significant strikes per minute, with 49 percent accuracy in significant strikes, while his takedown defense was recorded at 70 percent. These numbers do not tell the whole story of his career, but they show that he entered the octagon as an experienced fighter who was trying to adapt to the level of opponents in the light heavyweight division.
The UFC did not publish a detailed explanation
According to the available information, the UFC has not publicly announced a detailed reason for Erslan’s departure. In such cases, formulations such as “released” or “removed from the roster” often do not reveal whether the fighter’s contract was terminated, whether he was not offered a new contract after the existing one expired, or whether both sides accepted the end of the cooperation. MMA Fighting reported that Erslan, Ketlen Vieira, Tuco Tokkos and Daniel Barez were removed from the list of fighters. The same article particularly emphasized that Erslan and Vieira left after victories, which is always especially notable in combat sports because departures from a promotion are more often connected with a losing streak.
The UFC regularly changes its roster during the year, especially after larger runs of events and after contractual obligations expire. In doing so, the promotion does not have to publicly explain every individual decision, and fighters often negotiate their status through managers. Because of that, the exact legal and business framework of Erslan’s departure cannot be reliably described without direct confirmation from the UFC, the fighter or his management team. According to the information currently available, the most precise statement is that Erslan is no longer part of the UFC roster, rather than claiming that a specific reason for the separation has been officially confirmed. Such wording avoids conclusions that have not been publicly confirmed.
What removal from the UFC roster means
Removal from the UFC roster in practice means that the fighter is no longer listed as an active member of the promotion and that for now he has no contracted next appearance under its banner. That does not necessarily mean the end of a career at the highest level, because MMA fighters quite often return to the UFC after appearances in other organizations, a winning streak or changes in a particular division. In Erslan’s case, an additional factor is the light heavyweight division, a division in which the UFC regularly looks for new names, but also quickly filters out fighters who fail to achieve a stable winning streak. His 1-3 record in the promotion probably carried more weight than the fact that his last appearance ended in victory. Still, the victory over Tokkos leaves a different impression than a departure after a fourth consecutive loss.
For Erslan, such an outcome could mean a return to the European market, where he had already built a name before coming to the UFC. Before the octagon, he gained a large part of his international reputation in KSW, one of the strongest European MMA organizations. According to data from KSW and specialized combat sports databases, he competed against prominent light heavyweights and twice came close to the top of that organization through title fights or bouts against fighters from the top of the division. Such experience could open doors for him in European promotions if a new agreement with the UFC does not happen. For a 34-year-old fighter with a professional record of 15-6 and a recognizable style, continuing his career remains a realistic option.
From KSW to the octagon
Erslan arrived in the UFC as an already formed professional, not as a fighter who was only beginning to build a basic international profile. Cageside Press described him ahead of his debut as a KSW veteran and an experienced European light heavyweight, which neatly summarizes his status before entering the octagon. In KSW, he fought strong opponents, including Ibragim Chuzhigaev and Rafał Haratyk, and those matches were an important part of his reputation. KSW has for years been among the most relevant European organizations, especially for fighters from Central and Eastern Europe, so Erslan’s arrival in the UFC was a logical continuation of his career after a series of appearances on that scene. His transfer to the UFC was therefore received as an important step forward for a fighter who had long been present in regional and European MMA.
In the UFC, however, it became clear that adapting to the level and rhythm of the strongest promotion is extremely demanding. The loss to Cuțelaba was close and could be seen as an encouraging debut, but the defeats to Stirling and Crute further complicated his position. Stirling controlled most of the pace in their fight and won the judges’ decision, while Crute used grappling and finished the match in the first round. Against Tokkos, Erslan managed to reverse the trend and show fighting spirit over three rounds, but that did not change the final outcome of his status in the promotion. Leaving after a first UFC victory therefore gives the impression of an unfinished story, although the results record inside the organization explains part of the business logic behind such a decision.
Vieira, Tokkos and Barez left in the same wave
Erslan is not the only fighter who, according to MMA Fighting’s report, was removed from the UFC roster on May 21, 2026. The same wave also included Ketlen Vieira, until recently a ranked bantamweight fighter, who also won in her most recent appearance against Jacqueline Cavalcanti. Vieira, according to the same source, spent almost a decade in the UFC and recorded ten wins in fifteen appearances, including victories over well-known names such as Miesha Tate, Holly Holm, Cat Zingano and Sara McMann. Her departure further shows that a final victory is not always a guarantee of continued cooperation, especially if the promotion assesses that a certain cycle has ended. The same report also stated that Daniel Barez left the roster after a 1-3 record in the UFC.
Tokkos’s departure is especially connected to Erslan’s story because the two of them met in Las Vegas. According to the UFC Fight Night results, Tokkos lost to Erslan by unanimous decision. With that, Erslan earned an important victory, but at the same time it turned out that neither the winner nor the loser from that bout remained part of the UFC roster. Such an outcome is not common, but it is not without precedent in an organization that manages a large number of contracts, divisions and international markets. For fans and analysts of combat sports, the most important question now is whether Erslan will quickly find a new engagement or try to earn a return to the UFC through appearances outside the organization.
What comes next for Erslan
Erslan’s next step has not yet been officially confirmed. According to the available information, he has no publicly announced new fight after the victory over Tokkos and his departure from the UFC roster. Considering his experience in KSW, the UFC and regional promotions, logical options include a return to Europe, an appearance in one of the larger international organizations, or waiting for a new offer if a spot opens in the UFC light heavyweight division. In MMA, careers often change after just one or two victories, especially in divisions where roster depth is smaller than in the lighter divisions. Therefore, despite parting ways with the UFC, Erslan remains a fighter whose next decisions will be closely followed in the regional combat sports circle.
From a sporting point of view, a victory in his most recent appearance can be an important argument in negotiations with other promotions. Although the UFC episode did not end with a long-term stay, Erslan leaves it with the experience of four fights at the highest level and a victory in Las Vegas. That is a different starting point from the one he would have had after a winless run. At the same time, the results against Cuțelaba, Stirling and Crute clearly show the areas in which he would have to improve if he wants to compete again at the top of the international light heavyweight scene. Until official confirmation of his next engagement arrives, the only certainty is that his UFC tenure, according to the information currently available, ended after a 1-3 record and an overall professional score of 15-6 with one no contest.
Sources:
- MMA Fighting – report on the removal of Ivan Erslan, Ketlen Vieira, Tuco Tokkos and Daniel Barez from the UFC roster (link)
- MMA Fighting – results of the UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Costa event, including Erslan’s victory over Tokkos (link)
- UFC – official overview of preliminary results from the UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Costa event (link)
- UFCStats – official statistical page for Ivan Erslan with his record and basic fighting indicators (link)
- UFCalendar – overview of Erslan’s professional record and UFC fight history (link)
- Tapology – data on the Tuco Tokkos vs. Ivan Erslan fight, division, venue and basic fighting information (link)
- Cageside Press – context of Erslan’s UFC debut and his status as a KSW veteran before arriving in the UFC (link)
- Sherdog – report on Erslan’s UFC debut against Ion Cuțelaba in Paris (link)