Report: Phil De Fries and Chris Spang among seven fighters released from the UFC

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) released seven fighters from its roster this week, all of which suffered defeats in the organization at UFC on FUEL TV 9: "Mousasi vs. Latifi" or The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale, two events that went down in the month of April.

Five-fight veteran of the organization Phil De Fries is the most notable name of the group, and the rest of the names include Strikeforce alumni Chris Spang as well as The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 17 competitors Jimmy Quinlan, Collin Hart, Kevin Casey, Gilbert Smith and Adam Cella.

British news outlet MMA Opinion reported news on last Friday (April 26, 2013); however, UFC officials have yet to confirm the news.

De Fries (9-3) went 2-3 in time with the UFC, defeating Rob Broughton and Oli Thompson while suffering first-round (technical) knockout losses to Stipe Miocic, Todd Duffee and most recent, Matt Mitrione at UFC on FUEL TV 9.

Spang (5-2) was given only one chance in the UFC after crossing over from the now-defunct Strikeforce organization, losing a lackluster unanimous decision to Adlan Amagov at UFC on FUEL TV 9.

Quinlan (3-1), Hart (4-2-1), Casey (5-3), Smith (5-2) and Cella (4-1) were all one-and-done coming off their stints on TUF 17, all coming out on the wrong end of the one UFC fight Dana White promised them at the end of the reality show.

While none of the four releases come as a surprise, this latest crop of cuts proves UFC President White's statements that, "the blood has not all been spilled yet" when it comes to fighters being released from the world's premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization.