UFC Signs Veteran ‘Hillbilly,’ Cuts Him 24 Hours Later

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Well-traveled featherweight veteran Kevin Croom, who’s competed for Bellator and Shooto (and everything in between), finally fulfilled his lifelong goal of getting signed to UFC, recently putting pen to paper for this weekend’s ESPN+ event in Las Vegas.

That lasted all of 24 hours.

“Due to things completely out of my control, I am not fighting,” Croom wrote on Facebook. “I got signed and cut in 24 hours! But that doesn’t really change anything. I’m one step closer to my goal. I got signed! I’ve been waiting forever for that. I made it and I will make it again! I’ll be back!”

Croom was expected to replace Giga Chikadze in a featherweight showdown against Alex Caceres on the UFC Vegas 8 preliminary card. But with “The Hard-Hitting Hillbilly” sent packing, that open slot now goes to “Contender Series” standout Austin Springer.

For the revised UFC Vegas 8 fight card and line up click here.