The WEC-UFC merger has just claimed two more casualties, with MMAjunkie reporting that Jamie Varner and Chris Horodecki have been released by Zuffa following losses at WEC 53 on Dec. 16.
Varner (16-5-1) once held the WEC lightweight belt and garnered consideration as a possible top-ten fighter in the world at his weight class. However, following two successful title defenses, Varner has lost three of his last four bouts, with the only other result a controversial draw with Kamal Shalorus. Varner went 4-3-1 with the WEC and 1-1 in a prior stint with the UFC.
As for Horodecki (16-3), he came into the WEC after a successful run in the International Fight League, where he went 8-1 and picked up two close wins over Bart Palaszewski. However, he went 2-2 under the Zuffa banner, including a recent submission loss to Donald Cerrone.
UPDATE:
News of Varner’s release was first reported by Punchdrunkgamer.com.