The Pink Slip: Who Is at Risk of Being Cut Following UFC 299?

In the wake of the shattering encounters that unfolded at UFC 299, the spotlight naturally shifts to the athletes who elevated the card’s success. The main event witnessed reigning bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley exuding regal power and securing his dominion against battle-tested rival Marlon Vera. Meanwhile, the co-main event served as irrefutable proof that “The Diamond” remains as lustrous as ever, with Dustin Poirier scoring an emphatic second-round knockout victory over Benoit St. Denis.

Even in the glow of victory’s majesty, an undertone of unfortunate fate lingers for those who fell short of triumph. With that, we take a look at some of the fighters who with these losses, face the looming specter of the dreaded pink sli.

Maryna Moroz

Moroz and Joanne Wood engaged in a spirited back-and-forth affair that set the tone for the fights later. The opening fight of the event, a rematch of their April 2015 battle in Krakow, Poland, started with Moroz finding success in the first frame. As the fight progressed, both fighters resorted to slugging it out on the feet, which was in all fairness evenly contested. However, late in the third, Wood connected with a spinning back fist that hurt Moroz, leading to a dominant final stretch, which culminated with a split-decision victory. Wood capped off her 25-fight career with a gritty win and decided to bow out gracefully.

While it’s hard to say whether the third straight loss will warrant Moroz’s chances of being cut from the roster, a case can definitely be made that she must proactively assert control over her career if she intends to secure her position. The Ukrainian hasn’t won a fight in two years, with her last victory recorded against Mariya Agapova via submission at UFC 272.

Josh Parisian

Parisian is enduring the roughest patch of his professional career, having never suffered a three-fight losing streak before the loss to Robelis Despaigne at UFC 299. The Cuban heavyweight in his premiere under the UFC banner sat down the American with a right hand while backing up, following up with a huge uppercut that put the veteran on the canvas and brought the referee in to stop the action, all within 18 seconds of the first round.

Since making his unsuccessful UFC debut against Parker Porter in late 2020, Parisian has registered a 2-5 record, with three losses by finish. This most recent setback might leave him contemplating whether the imminent threat of the pink slip hovers on the horizon.