Former Bantamweight Title Challenger Cat Zingano Released By The UFC

Ethan Miller
Cat Zingano's Octagon journey is over.

According to reports, former UFC bantamweight title challenger, 'Alpha' Cat Zingano has been released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. First reported by @mma_kings_ on Twitter, two sources confirmed that the Minnesota native had been informed of her release yesterday. Zingano last competed in December 2018 in her featherweight debut against lengthy Australian striker Megan Anderson.

Zingano who featured in the Octagon on seven separate occasions amassed a 4-3 record in the promotion. Two notable stoppage finishes over former championship holder Miesha Tate and current two-division champion Amanda Nunes fast-tracked Zingano into her premier championship tilt against the then-undefeated Ronda Rousey. In a morally crushing defeat, Zingano was dispatched within just fourteen seconds of the opening round, after initiating a takedown attempt on Rousey immediately. Rousey countered expertly and set up a straight armbar stoppage.

Personal and health issues outside the Octagon limited the 37-year-old's activity in the promotion to just four more contests. Zingano returned against TUF victor Julianna Pena at UFC 200, losing the three-round affair via unanimous decision. A second loss to Ketlen Vieira soon followed in yet another, albeit much closer and contentious split decision display. Returning to the win column against Marion Reneau last summer, Zingano was then scheduled to meet Megan Anderson in a potential featherweight title eliminator at UFC 232.

In unfortunate circumstances, Zingano was forced to cruel up early in the opening round. After initially controlling the clinch, Zingano separated, with Anderson attempting a high kick. The shot grazed the eyeball of Zingano who turned away from Anderson as the referee called a halt to the match. Zingano unsuccessfully appealed the stoppage loss on the grounds of an illegal eye gouge to the Californian State Athletic Commission.

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