The former two-time lightweight title contender exits the promotion off five straight losses dating back to 2014 with his most recent outing coming at featherweight in a unanimous decision defeat to Arnold Allen.
Sources close to the situation confirmed Melendez’s release from the UFC when speaking to MMA Fighting on Monday. The news of his release was first reported by FightBookMMA.
When Melendez joined the UFC, he was a high profile addition to the roster after he was a multi-time lightweight champion with Strikeforce.
He was granted an immediate title shot at then champion Benson Henderson but came up short in a razor-close split decision.