Bryan Battle isn’t the kind of fighter to hide behind excuses. The former Ultimate Fighter winner admits the last year of his career has been chaotic — but not because he’s been beaten. Despite never losing inside the Octagon, Battle suddenly found himself on the outside looking in after repeated weight-cut struggles and a canceled fight that left his UFC future in limbo.

“It’s wild,” Battle said recently. “I’m still the only motherfer who’s got to make a comeback without fing losing a fight. That’s what makes this whole thing crazy.”

For Battle, the past several months have been a reality check. He rose quickly through the UFC’s welterweight division, earning attention for his all-action style and confident attitude. But missing weight in consecutive bouts — first at 170 pounds and then again when he attempted to move back up to middleweight — caused more damage than any punch ever could.

“It was humbling, man,” he admitted. “There were things that happened outside of my control, but a lot happened because of me. It’s been up and down, all over the place, but it’s been a learning experience. You can’t change what happened, you can only grow from it.”

Battle explained that he underestimated how difficult it would be to make the middleweight limit after competing at welterweight for so long. He trained hard but realized too late that his approach wasn’t sustainable. “I just thought it would be easy,” he said. “As soon as I got the fight, I was running nonstop, trying to make the number. It wasn’t smart. Lesson learned.”

Despite his release, Battle isn’t sulking. He’s already found success in a new promotion, notching a quick knockout in his first post-UFC appearance. The setback, he says, has only added fuel to his competitive fire.

“I’m not done,” Battle declared. “I’m staying active, staying sharp, and 185 feels like the right place for me right now. Eventually, I’ll go back to welterweight and finish what I started. But for now, it’s all about doing things the right way and proving I’m still one of the best in the world.”

Bryan Battle’s story isn’t one of defeat — it’s about recalibration. His confidence remains unshaken, his record still clean, and his eyes are fixed on redemption.