Last year was a wash for the 25 year old mixed martial artist. One of the more promising prospects on The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians, based on his then 8-2 record, the ATT stable member was forced off the show prematurely due to medical issues and failed to secure wins in his two subsequent Octagon appearances. The UFC released him shortly afterwards.
A string of injuries followed. He broke the big toe on his left foot—a fracture that split the toe up the middle six ways like a hollow-point bullet into the tarsometatarsal joint—and partially tore his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and meniscus in his knee.