Following his arrest and conviction in Sweden, the UFC has decided to release lightweight fighter Reza Madadi from his UFC contract. On Monday, the UFC issued a statement on the decision to terminate Madadi.
“Following his conviction by a court of law in Sweden, the UFC organization has elected to terminate its relationship with Reza Madadi based on its Fighter Code of Conduct and the provision of its promotional agreement concerning fighter conduct,” the UFC said in a statement released on Tuesday.
Madadi was arrested on May 27th of this year in Sweden for an alleged burglary. It was reported that he was an associate and allegedly broke into a designer handbag store before making off with $150,000 worth of stolen goods. Madadi, along with his associate were charges with aggravated theft and abetting larceny. He was found guilty for aggravated burglary and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
While in the UFC, Madadi won two of his three fights in the promotion with both of his wins coming by submission. Both of his wins came at the UFC events in Sweden and his most recent victory was in April against Michael Johnson. The UFC had booked him to face Michael Chiesa at UFC on FOX 8, but he was pulled from the fight after his arrest in Sweden.
Madadi can appeal his conviction and has until September 6th to do this. He is currently in jail in Sweden, which he has been in custody since being arrested.