UFC chooses poorly, parts ways with longtime veteran Ben Saunders

Longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Ben Saunders is no longer employed with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which may come as a surprise to you (as it did me) when you consider "Killa B" is 3-1 since his 2014 return with two finishes.

Including this one.

The UFC has confirmed to me that Ben Saunders is not under contract with the promotion

— Jason Floyd (@Jason_Floyd) August 8, 2016

MMA Fighting has more:

Saunders said he was not cut by the UFC. Instead, he said he fought out his contract and, due to multiple personal reasons, was not quick to re-sign.

Once Saunders did feel ready to put pen on paper, he said, it was too late. The UFC had already moved on without him.

"Fixing all of these aspects of my personal life and my career was not an easy task, but once I finally felt confident and had my mind right again, it was unfortunately too late," Saunders said. "UFC had filled my spot on their limited roster, which I completely understood. Once again, they don't know anything about any of this going on in my life, and I would imagine just considered my silence a form of resignation."

Saunders (19-7-2) cut his teeth on season six of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), but was sent packing in 2010 on the heels of his loss to Dennis Hallman, despite a respectable record of 4-3 inside the Octagon.

The good news is, "Killa B" -- last seen getting stopped by Patrick Cote -- is already booked for his next fight, a Sept. 9 showdown opposite ex-UFC welterweight Jacob Volkmann in Minnesota, according to Bloody Elbow.

In addition, I'm sure a return to Bellator MMA would be an option now that Bjorn Rebney is no longer playing "weird games."