Last Updated on February 13, 2026 by Pragjyoti Singh
After the surprising removal of Jailton Almeida by the UFC, the promotion has made another unexpected release as former TUF winner and brother of Kamaru Usman, Mohammed Usman, was removed from the roster. This comes after a 30-month suspension was handed to the heavyweight, who was once considered by many to be a legit contender in the heavyweight division.
His removal comes amid massive UFC cuts, which didn’t spare the likes of Javid Basharat and Alex Morono. The latest move comes after a massive $7.7 Billion deal with Paramount running from 2026 through 2033.
Why was Mohammed Usman suspended from the UFC?
Mohammed Usman’s removal comes after the heavyweight was handed a 30-month ban over a failed drug test. Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD )stated that the 36-year-old had admitted his testosterone use along with the banned peptide BPC-157.
Usman went 4-2 in the UFC after his stint on the Ultimate Fighter 30, where he knocked out Zac Pauga in 2022. His last appearance was on June 2025 when he beat Hamdy Abdelwahab. Prior to that, Usman was on a two-fight losing streak.
Per a statement made by the UFC in January 2026, “Usman tested positive for the presence of testosterone, a prohibited at all times substance in the class of Anabolic Agents on the UFC prohibited list, from an out-of-competition sample collected from him on September 8, 2025, in Coral Springs, Florida.”
The official UFC statement also claimed that the fighter did not take responsibility of his actions in a “timely fashion.”
“While Usman ultimately took responsibility for the above details, he did not do so in a timely fashion and not until CSAD confronted him with evidence they had independently collected during a detailed investigation of his use of these multiple prohibited substances as well as his attempt to deceive CSAD with a false explanation,” read the report.
The ban was retroactively dated Oct. 9, 2025, and will end on April 9, 2028.
Considering the given scenario along with the measures taken by the UFC post the Paramount deal, Mohammed Usman’s removal from the roster likely points to the 30-month suspension as the main reason.
UFC cuts Jailton Almeida among others
Before the news of Usman’s removal, fans were struck by the news of heavyweight Jailton Almeida’s release. The Brazilian, who lost his last two fights, was under immense fire from fans after a disappointing showing against Alexander Volkov at UFC 321. A defeat against Rizvan Kuniev earlier this month was the last nail on the coffin for ‘Malhadinho’.
Javid Basharat and Alex Morono were the two other prominent names who also had to face UFC’s axe. Basharat’s release was particularly shocking as it came right after a win last weekend when he beat Gianni Vasquez at UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs. Oliveira. The win snapped a two-fight losing streak, but apparently wasn’t enough for the promotion to keep Basharat on the roster.
On the other hand, Alex Morono was coming off a loss on the same event in what was his 24th appearance for the promotion. Post the defeat, Morono wrote a message on his Instagram seemingly requesting a retirement fight from Dana White & co.
“This war horse has some miles on him for damn sure. If this was my last ride, I’ll go out with my head held high. In a perfect world, my next fight will be my last. The UFC has been my home for the last decade. Nowhere I’d rather fight. Nowhere I’d rather retire. I’m confident and hopeful they’ll give me one last dance. It’s been a hell of a career. Genuine thank you for all of the support over the years. Stay tuned for what’s next. Death or victory.”
Along with the above names, Welterweight Adam Fugitt was also released by the promotion.
Fans believe the recent cuts were a step taken by the promotion to send a clear message that ‘boring’ fighters would not be a part of the promotion’s future. It comes just days before Sean Strickland headlines against Anthony Hernandez, with the likes of Dan Ige, Melquizael Costa, and Geoff Neal also forming the main card.
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