UFC cuts Antonio Braga Neto days after COVID-19 forces him out of fight with Abdul Razak Alhassan

Antonio Braga Neto was let go by the UFC just days removed from a positive COVID-19 test that forced him out of a fight with Abdul Razak Alhassan, he confirmed to MMA Fighting.

Neto (9-3, 1 no contest) hasn’t competed since 2017, when he lost via third-round stoppage to Trevin Giles. Neto’s previous bout took place in 2014 and was a split decision setback to Clint Hester. His sole UFC win came with a first-round submission over future title contender Anthony Smith in 2013.

Neto, a multiple-time jiu-jitsu world champion, withdrew from a bout with Deron Winn in December 2020 before his cancelled fight with Alhassan in August. Alhassan ended up facing Alessio Di Chirico on Aug. 28 and won by knockout in just 17 seconds.

Liliya Shakirova was also released following a two-year suspension for failing to disclose her use of meldonium, a banned drug, before her octagon debut this past October. Shakirova lost her only UFC appearance via submission to Lauren Murphy.

MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin contributed to this report.