Financial Dreams Shattered by Dana White After Heartbreaking News Handed to Axed UFC Fighter

When UFC flyweight Jimmy Flick had his hand raised after choking out Malcolm Gordon with an arm triangle at UFC 297 in January 2024, fans thought he was back. After two back-to-back losses, the win was sweeter than ever. It felt like he was reclaiming his place among the best at 125. But truth to be told, that moment marked the start of a painful downfall for the fighter who made noise early in his UFC run. Think about the way he submitted Nate Smith in his debut at Dana White’s Contender Series 2020. He followed it up with something extraordinary—a flying triangle submission win over Cody Durden. It is considered one of the greatest submissions in the UFC and is up there with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s triangle choke of Justin Gaethje.

Just like that, he was on the map. But in the fight game, momentum can vanish in a flash. Despite his rise, reality hit hard. Flick shocked fans by announcing his retirement at age 30—right after that win over Durden. He opened up about the financial strain of being a fighter in 2021, calling out the lack of long-term support in the UFC. “We have no 401k. We have no benefits. We have no fallback. Fighters are too stupid to unionize,” he said bluntly, making it clear his priority was securing a future for his family. He had no ill will towards the promotion. If anything, he asserted the UFC made him who he was. However, his retirement simply wasn’t meant to be.

He made a comeback in 2023, but it didn’t go as planned. He lost four of his next five fights. Most recently, in April 2025, he lost to Matt Schnell. With just two fights left on his contract, the UFC cut him loose. On a Facebook Live session, he shared the news with his followers:

“I got the call yesterday that the UFC cut me. It’s a hard pill to swallow. Being 2-4 in the UFC, I kinda understand it. Kinda sucks. I mean, I was hoping for maybe a fight of the night performance, get a little more money, be able to open my gym. Unfortunately, I don’t get to finish out my contract with the last two fights and it’s heartbreaking. At 34 years old, I still feel I’m right there at the peak of where I could be. I felt like I was getting better every fight.” 

However, reflecting on his last fight against Schnell, he thought the UFC would let him stay longer had he gotten a finish. “I don’t think I’m done yet,” he said, and pointed out his mistake of attempting a guillotine on Schnell. “I can redeem myself. I still plan on opening my gym. I got to make small steps for that to happen.”

Jimmy Flick’s unfortunate departure from the promotion will surely come as sad news for the MMA community. A fighter appreciated by the fans and veterans alike, he will be missed and talked about by many. After all, he had a unique fighting style, and his kill-or-be-killed was exciting. He had a 100% finish rate from Contender Series.

Yet, he was not the only fighter who was let go by the promotion. UFC CEO Dana White‘s firing decisions have had the fans confused in the past.

When Dana White strikes his axe: A throwback to some sudden UFC departures.

Even deserving and ranked fighters have often become victims of White and the UFC’s axe. Remember Elias Theodorou? The Canadian middleweight was ranked and held an 8–3 record in the UFC when he was cut after a loss to Derek Brunson in 2019. Many believed it was due to his grinding, unflashy style. Then there’s Jake Shields. Shields was let go in 2014 after losing to Hector Lombard, a former title challenger, despite a decent run in the promotion. Rumors swirled that his contract price and fight style led to his release.

And the most shocking was Shane Burgos. The fan-favorite featherweight left the UFC in 2022 for a better deal with PFL. Dana White later admitted, “We f*cked that one up.” So, where does that leave someone like Jimmy Flick?

Regardless, the UFC had a massive roster shake up in March. 35 fighters in 35 days were removed due to a variety of reasons. The names include: Bill Algeo, Dylan Budka, Joe Solecki, Julia Avila, Mashrabjon Ruzibaev, Julio Arce, Josh Culibao and many more.

The fight world’s crazy like that. It is full of comebacks and second chances. Just because a fighter’s gone doesn’t mean they’re done. Burgos could return. So could Flick. In MMA, careers can rise from the ashes.

Could Jimmy Flick make his way back into the UFC? Could another promotion give him the shot he deserves? Let us know in the comments.