DaMarques Johnson Released Following UFC on Fuel TV 5 Submission Loss to Gunnar Nelson

“And the hits keep on coming,” Johnson wrote. “No longer a UFC fighter.”

Johnson, 30, has lost four of his last five fights, with three of those defeats coming in recent succession. “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 9 runner-up earned victories over Edgar Garcia, Brad Blackburn, Michael Guymon and Clay Harvison during his three years with the Las Vegas-based promotion.

All three of Johnson’s recent defeats were recorded this year, as the 27-fight veteran began 2012 with an April submission defeat to British talent John Maguire before suffering a devastating second-round knockout at the hands of returning Octagon staple Mike Swick on Aug. 4 at UFC on Fox 4.

Johnson accepted his UFC on Fuel TV 5 bout with Nelson on short notice, filling in for an injured Pascal Krauss. Though the bout was supposed to take place at a 175-pound catch-weight, Johnson came in heavy at 183 pounds. Nevertheless, the fight was given the green light, and Nelson wasted no time in taking Johnson to the mat at Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England. The Icelander then avoided an omoplata attempt and captured Johnson’s back, cinching a rear-naked choke and forcing Johnson to tap at 3:34 of the opening frame.