The UFC has quietly moved to clean house, removing several veteran competitors from their official roster who haven’t stepped into the octagon in years. Among those released are Nick Diaz, Ryan Hall, Al Iaquinta and Joe Lauzon, marking the end of an era for these mixed martial arts veterans.
According to esteemed MMA journalist John Morgan, all four men have been
“removed from rankings eligibility”
this month, effectively severing their ties with Dana White‘s promotion. The move comes as little surprise given their extended periods of inactivity, with some absent from competition for nearly six years.
While some don’t think this is getting released – UFC has recently restricted the access to their API which effectively means this is the only confirmation we’re getting.
Diaz, the Stockton native and former welterweight title contender, endured his final octagon appearance in September 2021 when he lost via third-round stoppage to Robbie Lawler at UFC 266. That bout represented just his second appearance in the past decade, highlighting how rarely the 42-year-old has competed in recent years.
The veteran was scheduled to return at UFC 310 in December 2024 for a bout with Vicente Luque but withdrew for
“undisclosed reasons”
. The cancellation came amid concerning footage that sparked widespread worry among fans about his wellbeing. His friend and training partner Jake Shields later provided reassurance, confirming Diaz was
“heading in the right direction”
after dealing with personal challenges.
Adding to the intrigue surrounding Diaz‘s situation, bizarre rumors emerged three months ago when his ex-girlfriend claimed he had been kidnapped and held against his will at a facility in Mexico. However, these allegations were swiftly dismissed by his longtime Jiu-Jitsu coach Cesar Gracie, who confirmed the veteran was
“healthy and well”
.
Hall emerged through season 22 of TUF under Conor McGregor‘s guidance but managed only four appearances in the promotion. His UFC journey began with a debut victory over BJ Penn at UFC 232, followed by wins against Darren Elkins and Darrick Minner. His sole defeat came in July 2021 to Ilia Topuria, who has since captured both featherweight and lightweight championships.
The 38-year-old Iaquinta stands as the only one among the group to officially announce his retirement. The former lightweight title challenger now works in real estate, having walked away from competition following a knockout loss to Bobby King Green at UFC 268 in November 2021. His most notable achievement remains going the distance with Khabib Nurmagomedov in a title bout at UFC 223, though he also secured impressive victories over Jorge Masvidal, Kevin Lee and Diego Sanchez during his eight-year UFC tenure.
Lauzon enjoyed the longest relationship with the promotion, accumulating 14 performance bonuses across 26 matches since his successful 2006 debut. The veteran concluded his career with a 28-16 record, having been inactive for almost six years. His final victory came via first-round stoppage over Jonathan Pearce at UFC Boston, capping off a memorable run that saw him once declare BJ Penn as the greatest UFC lightweight of all time even ahead of modern legends.
All four had remaining bouts on their UFC contracts, but their removal from the roster suggests there’s no pathway back to the octagon. While Iaquinta has embraced retirement and his real estate career, the futures of Diaz, Hall and Lauzon in mixed martial arts appear uncertain at best.
