After his well-supported push for a UFC re-signing fell on deaf ears, Nate Maness has his next career step confirmed.
Maness competed seven times inside the Octagon after signing in 2020, going 5-2 and recording three finishes in the process. His only defeats came at the hands of the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov at 135 pounds and ranked flyweight Tagir Ulanbekov.
Following those back-to-back losses, “Mayhem” bounced back with a first-round knockout of Mateus Mendonça last October and a decision win over Jimmy Flick this past June. But while those results built momentum for the 33-year-old, his contract was not renewed.
That decision drew plenty of backlash across the mixed martial arts community, especially when Maness revealed he was told by UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard that he was not exciting enough to remain on the 125-pound roster.
Maness Becomes Latest Ex-UFC Fighter To Join BKFC
Despite his bemusement and disappointment regarding his forced departure from the UFC being widely shared by fans and analysts, Maness will need to continue his career in combat sports elsewhere.
And more than just exiting MMA’s leading promotion, “Mayhem’s” next step sees him depart the sport as a whole for the time being.
This week, it was confirmed that Maness is BKFC bound, having signed a multi-fight deal with the top bare-knuckle boxing organization, which is part-owned by UFC star Conor McGregor and boasts the likes of Mike Perry under its banner.
“News is out. We’re @bareknucklefc bound,” Maness wrote on X.
It remains to be seen when Maness will make his debut in the BKFC ring. But when he does, the 33-year-old will look to prove that the UFC made the wrong decision by not offering him a new deal.
