Dennis Hallman Released From The UFC Following UFC on FX 5 Weigh-In Incident

Despite earlier reports stating Dennis Hallman had merely been paid and sent home following his failure to make weight for his scheduled UFC on FX 5 bout with Thiago Tavares, news has surfaced that “Superman” has officially been released from his UFC contract.

Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting was able to confirm with the fighter that he was released from his UFC contract following the UFC on FX 5 weigh-in incident.

“They are cutting me,” Hallman wrote to MMA Fighting.com. “Dana [White] gave me my show and win pay to help me deal with the mountain in front of me. Now I have to go make weight a couple times on the regional circuit. I’ll be back to the UFC though, I always am.”

According to Helwani’s report, Hallman passed out on Thursday afternoon while cutting weight. Hallman was two pounds over the 156-pound weight limit and was given fluids which caused his weight to shift seven pounds over the lightweight limit.

For the second time in his last two fights, Hallman missed weight. As a result, the American’s scheduled lightweight bout against Thiago Tavares at UFC on FX 5 was scrapped 24-hours before it was supposed to take place.

Moreover, Hallman claims the weight issue is not the reason he is not fighting Tavares at UFC on FX 5. The 36-year-old stated he is dealing with personal issues at home and deemed himself unfit to fight.

“I’m having some personal issues at home,” Hallman said. “I’m not fit to fight. I told Dana [White] what my issues were. He understands family matters, and he was cool with me not fighting.”

Question rose when Hallman and Tavares didn’t come out to the scale to weigh in during the UFC on FX 5 weigh-ins Thursday afternoon at Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Shortly after on the FUEL TV weigh-in show, host Karyn Bryant announced that Hallman vs. Tavares would no longer take place on the fight card.

Hallman competed for years as a welterweight, but dropped to lightweight at UFC 140 in Dec. 2010 to face John Makdessi. The 36-year-old came in 2.5 pounds over the weight limit for his fight with Makdessi, however he was only fined and the fight took place. Hallman went on to defeat Makdessi by first-round submission.

The UFC paid both Hallman and Tavares their entire contracted fight purse including show and win bonuses.

A lightweight bout between Carlo Prater and. Marcus LeVesseur will move from the Facebook preliminary card in place of Hallman vs. Tavares.

Mike Bohn, founder and lead writer of FightCove.com, wrote this article. You can follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeBohnMMA. Also, follow @FightCove on Twitter and “Like” Fight Cove on Facebook.