Report: UFC releases bantamweight Ivan Menjivar after third straight loss
Following three straight losses, and four setbacks in his past five fights, the UFC has cute ties with Ivan Menjivar.
Menjivar (25-12 MMA, 4-5) has been released from the promotion less than three weeks after his most recent loss, a decision defeat at the hands of Hatsu Hioki in Macau earlier this month. MMA Fighting brought word of Menjivar’s release on Friday, though the UFC, as usual with fighter releases, did not make a formal announcement.
Menjivar first fought in the UFC in 2004, when he dropped a unanimous decision to future welterweight champion Matt Serra at UFC 48. After that, he won seven of his next eight, including a submission of Joe Lauzon, with his lone loss coming at the hands of Urijah Faber in Canada.
Menjivar, an El Salvadorian who trains with the famed Tristar Gym in Montreal, took nearly four years off from the sport after back-to-back losses to Caol Uno and Bart Palaszewski in 2006. In 2010, he signed with the WEC, where he dropped a decision to Brad Pickett before that promotion merged with the UFC.
But once in the UFC, Menjivar won four of five and found himself in the title picture at 135 pounds. He had three straight wins over Charlie Valencia, Nick Pace and John Albert, the latter a “Submission of the Night†winner. And after a loss to Mike Easton, he submitted Azamat Gashimov and soon found himself in a big rematch against Faber.
But Faber submitted him at UFC 157 a little more than a year ago. Losses to Wilson Reis and Hioki followed, as did his release.
Menjivar will turn 32 in May, but has an impressive 37 fights on his resume since his pro debut in Canada as an 18-year-old. That means he most likely will be able to find work elsewhere.
The UFC also released 22-fight UFC veteran Melvin Guillard after a recent loss.
