Our own Luke Thomas, formerly the editor in chief of Bloody Elbow and now a senior editor with MMA Fighting will be a featured analyst on Spike TV's MMA Uncensored tonight at 11 p.m. Luke will have a short news and notes segment on the show which is on its second episode. Spike Carlyle is the latest fighter to join the UFC roster purge. On Sunday night the former UFC featherweight confirmed recent rumors that he had been released by the promotion. Carlyle’s departure means he joins the likes of “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil” Season 3 winner Antonio Carlos Junior, women’s bantamweight Sarah Moras.

• Spike Mma Fight Tonight Night
• Is There A Mma Fight On Tonight

Spike Carlyle is the latest fighter to join the UFC roster purge.

On Sunday night the former UFC featherweight confirmed recent rumors that he had been released by the promotion. Carlyle’s departure means he joins the likes of “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil” Season 3 winner Antonio Carlos Junior, women’s bantamweight Sarah Moras and welterweight Rhys McKee, who have all recently been let go by the promotion.

Carlyle (9-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) took to social media to announce the news, posting the full video of an Instagram Live session he conducted with his fans. He mentioned that despite having one fight remaining on his contract, the UFC decided to part ways with him.

“Released from UFC. So grateful for the opportunity and platform the UFC gave me! Excited to move on with my career hopefully to my true Heart’s Desire JAPAN!! #alphaginger #mma #ufc #boxing #bjj #wrestling #fitness #dream #pride#soccerkicksandfacestomps”

“The Alpha Ginger” made his UFC debut in February 2020, when he stepped in on short notice to face Aaron Cruz. He scored a first-round TKO of Cruz, extending his winning streak to five.

But Carlyle would go on to lose his next two in a row, dropping back-to-back unanimous decision losses to Billy Quarantillo in May, then Bill Algeo in November, before getting released by the promotion. Carlyle described his cut as “bitter,” but also expressed his gratitude towards the UFC for the opportunity he was provided.

In the next chapter of his career, the 27-year-old has aspirations of competing in Japan, in hopes of landing in either Rizin or Bellator. His future plans also involve a move up to lightweight in order to ramp up his activity, and he is hoping to compete as soon as March.

Spike Carlyle vs Bill Algeo

Spike Mma Fight Tonight Night

UFC Vegas 15

UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV

Is There A Mma Fight On Tonight

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Spike Carlyle will battle Bill Algeo at UFC Vegas 15 on Saturday, November 28, 2020. The opening moneyline has Carlyle at -175 while Algeo is coming in at +155.

Spike 'Alpha Ginger' Carlyle has a record of 9-2-0. The 27-year-old steps on the scale at 145 lbs and measures in at 5'8'. The switch fighter reaches 71'. Bill 'Senor Perfecto' Algeo comes in at 6'0' and steps on the scale at 145 lbs. The switch fighter looks to add a victory to his record of 13-5-0. The 31-year-old stretches 73'. Regarding significant strikes, Spike Carlyle is landing 3.47 per minute and Bill Algeo is landing 7.87 significant strikes per min. Carlyle is landing 60% of the significant strikes he attempts while Algeo lands 53%. In terms of defending themselves, 'Alpha Ginger' absorbs 3.11 significant strikes per minute and 'Senor Perfecto' absorbs 7.20. Carlyle also stops 34% of the significant strikes that are aimed in his direction while Algeo defends against 35% of the shots thrown in his direction.

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Concerning wrestling, Spike Carlyle is the more skilled grappler as he scores a takedown 2.74 times per 15 minutes. Carlyle is taking his opponents to the canvas on 50% of his attempts and defending 50% of all takedown tries against him. Algeo is finishing his takedown attempts on 33% of the takedowns he attempts and is stuffing 57% of all takedowns attempted by his opposition. Regarding submissions, Carlyle is the more experienced of the two fighters by trying 0.6 submissions per 3 rounds while Algeo attempts 0.4 submissions per 3 rds.

In his previous fight, Spike Carlyle went up against Billy Quarantillo and ended up losing the fight by unanimous decision in round 3. Quarantillo ended up landing 110 of 135 total strikes that he let go in that fight. Carlyle walked away from this fight having landed 64 of 102 total strikes. In the category of significant strikes, Quarantillo landed 49 of 66, which means his percentage was 74%. He landed 42 of 59 significant strikes to the head. On the other side of the cage, Carlyle landed 56% of his significant strikes by connecting on 37 of 66. Looking at the significant strike accuracy, he was 34 of 63 to the head. 24% of the significant strikes landed by Quarantillo and 32% of them connected on by Carlyle were thrown at a distance.

Related: Get MMA predictions

In the last bout for Bill Algeo, he went up against Ricardo Lamas and ended up losing the fight by unanimous decision in round 3. Lamas ended up landing 59% of the significant strikes he took from distance while Algeo connected on 79% of the significant strikes he attempted at distance. Algeo ended up landing 52% of the significant strikes he attempted by landing 89 of 168. He landed 57 of 124 significant strikes directed at the head. Lamas ended up landing 104 of 156 significant strikes in that contest. In terms of accuracy for the significant strikes, he connected on 64 of 106 aimed at the head. Relating to total strikes attempted in that contest, Lamas ended up connecting on 127 of 180 and Algeo connected on 145 of 224 of all the strikes he attempted.

Other bouts to keep an eye on

Another fight to keep an eye on is when Martin Day enters the Octagon against Anderson Dos Santos. Day holds a career record of 8-4-0. The 32-year-old is weighing in at 135 lbs and measures in at 5'10'. The orthodox fighter has a wingspan of 73'. Dos Santos stands 5'5' and is fighting at 135 lbs. The orthodox fighter comes into this bout with a mark of 20-8-0. The 35-year-old has a reach of 70'. Regarding grappling, Martin Day takes his opponents down 0.70 times per 15 min while Anderson Dos Santos is able to score a takedown 1.00 times per 15 min. Regarding striking, Day connects on 5.39 strikes/minute and connecting on 45% out of all the strikes he attempts. On the other side of the cage we have Anderson Dos Santos, who lands 26% of the strikes he has tried and connects on 2.70 per min.

Another bout to watch is when Kai Kamaka is set to enter the Octagon against Jonathan Pearce. Pearce steps into the Octagon with a record of 9-4-0. The 28-year-old weighs 145 lbs and comes in at 6'0'. The switch fighter has a reach of 71'. Kamaka measures 5'7' and weighs 145 lbs. The orthodox fighter steps into the Octagon holding a mark of 8-2-0. The 25-year-old has a wingspan of 69'. Concerning grappling, Jonathan Pearce is able to stop 80% of the takedowns his opponents go for and is finishing his takedown tries on 50% of the times he tries. Kamaka is taking his opponents to the mat on 40% of the attempts he tries and is able to thwart 57% of takedowns his opponents have tried. With regard to striking, Pearce absorbs 7.85 strikes/min and he is landing 11.21 per minute. Kamaka, at the same time, is absorbing 7.60 strikes/minute and deals 7.60 per min.

Who will win tonight's UFC match against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Spike Carlyle (-175)

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