Daniel Marcos Released by UFC After 5-1 Run, Signs With PFL

Com reported. The 33-year-old Peruvian fighter posted confirmation on Instagram on June 2, 2026. Marcos holds an 18-1 professional MMA record and competed in the UFC bantamweight division with a 5-1 mark.

His final UFC bout took place in November 2025, when he defeated Miles Johns by second-round submission. The UFC began a roster purge at the beginning of 2026 after its partnership with Paramount went live. Marcos was released in the week prior to June 2, 2026.

Marcos addressed the situation on Instagram. “I finished my opponent, and since December, I’ve stayed ready to compete again,” he stated. “I spent months training, doing camp, and waiting for an opportunity.

A negotiation never came; a renewal never came. I just kept waiting because I trusted that the moment would come. ” He added that he could not control the UFC’s decision but could control his response.

“I am grateful to every person who has supported me along this path, especially those who have been there in both the victories and the difficult moments,” Marcos wrote. In a separate post, Marcos expressed optimism about the move.

“Thanks to @jasonkhouse for the trust and @pflmma for the work that makes these moments possible. The signing is just the beginning. My language has always been the same: discipline, pressure, and violence.

Prominent MMA journalist Nolan King reported that Marcos’s UFC contract had expired and the promotion chose not to renew it. Jason K House facilitated the signing to the PFL. The PFL bought Bellator in 2023 and is planning a brand overhaul to revive the Bellator brand.

Sergio Pettis, Mitch McKee, and Renat Khavalov rank among the promotion’s top bantamweights.