Could an Alabama-born Fighter Return to the UFC Soon?

Eryk Anders isn't the only mixed martial arts fighter with Alabama ties, and one such fighter could find himself back with the global MMA leader sooner rather than later.

Brok Weaver, who competed in the UFC three times from 2019-20, is from Jackson, AL, and is a fighter whose record suggests he could return to the promotion at some point in the future. The lightweight hasn't lost since the biggest promotion in the game let him go.

At 30 years old, Weaver, fighting out of McIntosh and training with Port City Combat Sports in Mobile, owns a 17-6 professional MMA record. He was among the UFC's numerous early 2021 roster cuts after losing both of his 2020 bouts. He has since won twice and signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where fighters compete in a regular season and playoffs for the chance to win $1 million. Originally set to debut under that banner almost a year ago, Weaver has yet to compete as part of the PFL.

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If his two-year deal lapses without a fight, the UFC could be his next fighting home. Weaver's last bout was almost exactly a year prior to this writing as part of UFC megastar Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Fighting Championship. Unfortunately, as mentioned, his originally scheduled PFL debut did not occur and so he has been on the sidelines since that appearance. The Gamebred FC win was a finish over a Bellator MMA veteran.

Alternatively, the potential exists that he could find himself fighting back at home. The b2 Fighting Series comes through Alabama multiple times a year and some of its alums are part of the UFC roster. Weaver has had one professional fight in his home state; though that was his first loss at the pro level, it was also over eight years ago. With his record where it is, it might only take a flashy win in front of his home crowd to get Weaver back into the Octagon.