UFC Announces Release of Michael Graves After October 2016 Domestic Battery Arrest

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has released undefeated welterweight Michael Graves.

On Monday, the promotion released an official statement on Graves, announcing that it had parted ways with the 26-year-old American Top Team product, terminating his contract effective immediately.

The UFC's statement is as follows:

In November 2016, welterweight Michael Graves was removed from his UFC bout following his arrest in Fulton County, Florida. As a potential violation of the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy, the UFC organization temporarily barred Graves from competition pending the completion of a third-party investigation. Based on the findings of this thorough review and investigation, UFC has advised Graves that he has been released from his contract effective immediately.

“UFC requires all athletes to act in an ethical and responsible manner, as mandated by the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy. UFC holds its athletes to the highest standard and will continue to take appropriate action if and when warranted.

Graves' release stems from his October 2016 arrest in Fulton County, Georgia for misdemeanor battery. It was alleged that he had punched and elbowed his fiancée during an argument in their car and he was later released on $5000 bond. Following his arrest, Graves was pulled from his Nov. 19 bout with Sergio Moraes, scheduled for the UFC Fight Night card in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

After a stint on “The Ultimate Fighter 21,” Graves won his first two bouts inside the Octagon, decisioning Vicente Luque before choking out Randy Brown. Graves' last UFC bout came at UFC 201 in Atlanta last July, when he fought Bojan Velickovic to a majority draw.