Mike Ciesnolevicz released from UFC contract

One loss was all it took for the UFC to hand Mike Ciesnolevicz his walking papers.

The 29-year-old out of Team Miletich has been let go after a four-month stint with UFC. Ciesnolevicz (17-4) compiled a 1-1 record as a member of the UFC organization.

Ciesnolevicz in February received a call to move up to heavyweight on short notice to fight Neil Grove at UFC 95 "Sanchez vs. Stevenson" in London. Ciesnolevicz submitted Grove in 63 seconds with a heel hook and it appeared the former IFL fighter found a new home with the UFC. But his loss in a light-heavyweight bout to Tomasz Drwal last Saturday at "The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale" and perhaps his failure to make weight -- he was the only fighter on the card to not make weight -- was apparently enough to bring about his release.

Ciesnolevicz was the light-heavyweight for the Pat Miletich's Quad Cities Silverbacks squad in the IFL from 2006 through 2008.