Say it isn’t so, the UFC has laid down the pink slip hammer and released a total of 16 fighters.  This was confirmed by Dana White thru MMAFighting.com.

The biggest name on the list is no doubt Jon Fitch who has only lost two fights in his last nine.  Fitch was on the wrong end of a Demian Maia grappling clinic in his last fight.  Fitch has long been a top five welterweight.  After losing to Johny Hendricks, Fitch rebounded in a huge way, handing Erick Silva his first UFC loss.

Jorge Santiago was also released after his loss to Gunnar Nelson this past weekend.  Santiago, while looking much improved, did little in the eyes of those that matter and ends what was a third UFC outting.  Santiago was outclassed on the ground by one of the hottest prospects in all MMA.

Japanese fighter Motonobu Tezuka was also released from the organization.  Tezuka made the move from Pancrase to the UFC but was never able to do much.  He was on the other side of two decision losses prior to his release.  Tezuka will likely return to Pancrase.

Here is a list of all fighters released by the promotion:

Jon Fitch, Wagner Prado, Mike Russow, Jacob Volkmann, Vladimir Matyushenko, Che Mills, Jay Hieron, Terry Etim, Paul Sass, Jorge Santiago, Mike Stumpf, Simeon Thoresen, C.J. Keith, Motonobu Tezuka, Josh Grispi and Ulysses Gomez.