Ultimate Fighter winner Diego Brandao has been released from the UFC this week after a felony arrest for aggravated battery earlier this month, according to several published reports.
Brandao allegedly assaulted several men outside of a strip club in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on April 15, leading to a multitude of charges stemming from the attack, which allegedly included Brandao pistol-whipping the men in addition to other attacks. He’s facing four felony charges out of the incident.
The 28-year-old Brazilian entered the UFC in 2011, defeating Dennis Bermudez to win the TUF 14 featherweight tournament. He went 5-4 over his next nine fights in the UFC, most recently getting submitted by Brian Ortega at UFC 195 in January. A failed marijuana test out of that event has him also facing disciplinary action from the Nevada Athletic Commission.
Penick’s Analysis: Brandao’s actions were completely inexcusable, and it’s entirely possible he gets at least some jail time out of this incident. He was more expendable than some of the other fighters who have run afoul of the law while on the UFC roster, so his release doesn’t come as a surprise at all.
[Photo (c) Joshua Dahl via USA Today Sports]
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