Kris McCray Released From the UFC, Vows to Return to the Octagon

Following a tough three round split decision loss at UFC Fight Night 24, former “Ultimate Fighter” finalist Kris McCray has been released from the promotion.

The season 11 cast member had dropped his 3 bouts in the Octagon since leaving the show, including the finale loss to eventual champion Court McGee.

McCray dropped to 170lbs after the fight with McGee, but came up short in both of his fights there, but that won’t deter the Virginia based fighter from battling his way back to the Octagon.

“After a fight like that it kind of sucks, but what can you do…never let it get in the hands of the judges. It was a great fight and not to take anything away from (John) Hathaway, but I wish I would have got that last fight,” McCray told MMAWeekly.com

“I know I can compete at that level, I had a really good fight and a tough guy at that level. So just get back, keep fighting, and we’ll see 3, 4, 5 or 6 fights, who knows, definitely want to get back on the bike.”

McCray had started to train recently with UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and coach Ricardo Almeida in New Jersey. The former TUF finalist plans on continuing his training at the New Jersey based school, and working his way back to the UFC in the future.

“You’ve got to at least set that as your mark that’s where you want to be. We’ll see how it goes, and hopefully good news,” McCray said about his journey to get back to the UFC.

Even though it was a tough loss and even tougher news to endure that he had been released, McCray isn’t letting it keep him down.

He’s already fielding offers to fight again, and hopes to wash the taste of the defeat out of his mouth in the next couple of months.

“The end of May, June, maybe this month. I want to be smart about this, so I wouldn’t take anything too crazy on short notice, but definitely May or June,” McCray commented about his return to action.

McCray is the latest fighter to be released from the UFC following the Fight Night show in Seattle. Last week, heavyweight Sean McCorkle also got his walking papers following a loss on the same show in March.

MMAWeekly.com will have more information on McCray’s next fight when it becomes available.

Damon Martin is the lead staff writer and radio host for MMAWeekly.com.
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