M-1 Global champion Vinny Magalhaes departs organization citing issue with management

After Vinny Magalhaes suffered a loss to Ryan Bader in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter 8, most expected the BJJ master to remain a key figure in the light heavyweight division. However, Magalhaes never quite lived up to the hype, being released following a subsequent loss to Eliot Marshall.

Though it was a setback, the defeat didn’t keep Magalhaes from making his way back to prominence in the sport, as he rededicated himself in the gym and became the M-1 Global light heavyweight champ. Now, after hearing a key figure in M-1 rooting against him in a fight with Mikhail Zayats, Magalhaes has let his contract expire and is a free agent.

“Once that happens, I don’t know how you can trust somebody,” said Magalhaes in a recent interview with MMAFighting. “Hopefully, in the next few days, I’m going to have an opponent somewhere.”

Magalhaes has won seven of his last eight bouts including five straight to improve his overall record to 9-5 with one No Contest. Though his record is nothing to brag about, being a former champion on a hot streak with former TUF ties it appears possible the UFC may give him another look to compete inside the Octagon.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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MMATraining Take: Magalhaes seemed like an up-and-coming fighter off TUF, but his loss to Marshall showed he needed to work on more than jiu-jitsu. Magalhaes has done that, improving in every area along with keeping his submission skills at an elite level. Personally, I’d like to see him return to the UFC and maybe even face Bader again.