Elias Theodorou announces first fight since UFC release set for December

Roughly six months after his UFC release, Elias Theodorou has a date and event set for his return to the cage.

According to a tweet posted by Theodorou (16-3 MMA) on Tuesday, the Canadian middleweight will compete Dec. 6 at Prospect Fighting Championships 12 at St. Denis Centre in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. At this time, Theodorou’s opponent has not been revealed.

“The Ultimate Fighter 25” winner Theodorou was riding a three-fight winning streak when he dropped a unanimous decision to Derek Brunson at UFC on ESPN+ 9 in Ottawa in early May. One loss was enough for the UFC brass to sever ties, as Theodorou was released shortly after the event.

Theodorou’s release came as a surprise to many, who tacked the decision up to his fighting style. Only two of his 11 UFC fights ended inside the distance. A member of the UFC’s roster since early 2014, Theodorou had compiled an 8-3 record for the promotion.

In an interview with MMA Junkie in mid-June, Theodorou gave his thoughts on his departure and what he planned on doing next.

“The UFC does have 600 athletes,” Theodorou said. “I think they just looked at what I was making now being 8-3 in the UFC, the five or seven Canadian fighters they recently added, they probably can pay every single one of their paychecks with my paycheck.

“I think the surprise – I think it kind of speaks to what my value is as a martial artist, and the people that know me inside the cage and out. I’m excited for the next step in my career and make myself undeniable, wherever that is.”

From 2014-2019, Theodorou earned victories over Eryk Anders, Trevor Smith, Sam Alvey, Cezar Ferreira, Sheldon Westcott, and more. His three UFC losses were suffered at the hands of Brad Tavares, Thiago Santos, and Derek Brunson. During his 19-fight professional MMA career to date, Theodorou has never been finished by strikes or submission.