UFC Parts Ways With Ismael Bonfim After Francisco Prado KO and Weight-Cut Issues

The 30-year-old was removed from the promotion’s roster after suffering a first-round knockout loss to Francisco Prado at UFC Vegas 122 in Las Vegas.  Bonfim, aka “Marreta,” entered the preliminary-card bout 7 1/2 lbs over the lightweight limit, adding another weight-cutting problem to a UFC run that had already taken a difficult turn.

Saturday’s defeat marked his fourth consecutive stoppage loss inside the Octagon. The former DWCS fighter now bids farewell to the promotion on a rather dismal skid, 2-5, a disappointing outcome for a fighter who arrived with an 18-3 professional record and plenty of promise. 

Bonfim, however, does not appear ready to walk away from the sport. Before news of his release emerged, he posted a message on social media promising that his career was far from over. His latest defeat was the unlucky culmination of a difficult stretch in which neither his performances nor his struggles on the scales went his way.

Ismael Bonfim’s UFC Run Ends After UFC Vegas 122 Setback

Back in 2023, during his debut against Terrance McKinney, the Brazilian's stocks were up. While his spectacular flying knee KO of McKinney grabbed plenty of eyeballs, his strong record on the regional circuit made him look capable of making an immediate impression in the lightweight division.

That said, there were setbacks along the way, but Bonfim also showed he could compete at the UFC level. He submitted to the "God of War" Benoît Saint Denis in his second appearance before bouncing back with a decision win over Vinc Pichel. 

That victory, however, proved to be his last in the promotion. What followed was four consecutive stoppage defeats, leaving him with just one win across his final six appearances. Adding insult to injury were his repeated weight-cutting problems that added another layer to the decline.

Postponed Fights Plague Bonfim

Ahead of a scheduled bout against Pichel in November 2023, Bonfim missed weight by 3 1/2 lbs, and the fight was cancelled after Pichel declined to proceed at catchweight. He later weighed 161 pounds for his November 2025 fight against Chris Padilla, five pounds over the lightweight limit. 

Chris Padilla accepted the catchweight bout only to hand Bonfim another loss. The situation worsened at UFC Vegas 122, where he came in 7 1/2 lbs overweight before Prado stopped him in the opening round. The latest miss was reportedly his third during his UFC tenure, while one additional bout had already fallen through because of weight-cutting issues.

Bonfim Insists his Fighting Career is Not Over

Bonfim had already begun addressing his future before news of his UFC departure surfaced. On Sunday, in a social media post, the Brazilian reflected on the challenges he had faced and made it clear that his latest defeat would not define his entire career.

“There are no excuses, no shame, and certainly no reason to give up,” he wrote in Portuguese. “We made it this far by taking the hardest road, facing battles that few people know about, overcoming fears, breaking barriers, and fighting battles that go far beyond what happens inside the octagon. The outcome of a battle does not define a warrior’s worth, and a loss will never be enough to erase the entire story we’ve built.”

Bonfim then followed that message by reaffirming his faith and expressing confidence that there was more to come, noting, 

“I keep my head held high, my heart at peace, and my faith stronger than ever,” he continued. “Because those who know where they came from, everything they’ve been through, and how hard they’ve had to fight to get here don’t give up because of one result.”

“My story doesn’t end here. God is still writing the next chapters, and I trust Him completely. All honor and all glory be to God!”

Meanwhile, his older brother, Gabriel Bonfim, has been steadily building his own career in the UFC, making the contrast between their recent fortunes all the more noticeable.