Dustin Ortiz Confirms Free Agency, Believes UFC is in Process of Closing Flyweight Division
By FCF Staff
Dustin Ortiz has confirmed he’s no longer on the UFC roster, and the longtime, flyweight contender’s also relayed he believes the promotion is indeed, shutting down the 125 division.
The 30-year-old fighter, who is coming off a decision loss to Joseph Benavidez in January, recently confirmed to MMA Junkie he’s now a free agent. The bout was the final fight on his current deal. Prior to the loss, Ortiz had won three straight fights.
In addition, while discussing the future of the UFC’s flyweight division, Ortiz said this:
“I truly believe that they’re letting guys fight out their contract. They come off a loss, they’re going to release them from their contract and just kind of do away with it and make an announcement that Henry is moving up to 135 and there will no longer be any (flyweight) fights in the UFC. That’ll be it. It’s pretty disheartening for all the fighters that have fought and put everything into this sport just to be done away with so effortlessly.”
“…The whole thing is disappointing on how they’re going about it. You have other fighters in other weight classes in the UFC, they don’t even care. That’s even more disheartening that we have people in the same company in the same industry that loves to do what you do and have that same passion, and could care less if you fight or not. It’s a dog-eat-dog business, and that’s how it goes. It’s not life or death. This is the job.”
Ortiz joined the UFC back in 2013 and proceeded to go 8-6 in the Octagon. Recently there’s been extensive speculation that the UFC plans to close down the flyweight division, however, UFC President Dana White has stopped short of confirming that decision.