The UFC may not be giving an official word on whether or not they’re closing down the 125 lb division yet, but they appear to be releasing almost every flyweight that loses in the Octagon.
“We’ll see what the future holds...” That’s about as definitive as Dana White is willing to get on the UFC’s flyweight division right now — as rumors continue to swirl that the promotion is closing down their lightest men’s weight class. And while those kinds of ominous statements leave a lot of potential wiggle room for future plans, the current reality is a lot more cut and dried. The UFC is cutting their flyweight roster. One fight at a time.
Over the past month at least seven flyweights have been removed from the UFC roster — reports of Matheus Nicolau and Brandon Moreno possibly being released have yet to be confirmed. The general rule governing the cuts appears to be: If you lose, you’re gone. The latest fighter to fall victim to this harsh new reality, American-born Aussie and Tiger Muay Thai talent Ben Nguyen.
Nguyen (17-8) suffered a unanimous decision loss at UFC Adelaide on Saturday, December 1st, at the hands of former title contender Wilson Reis. It was Nguyen’s second straight defeat in the UFC, bringing his overall record with the promotion to 4 wins & 3 losses. Just five days later he announced his departure from the promotion in a post on Twitter:
“What a journey it has been!” Nguyen wrote on social media. “I want to thank everyone who has supported me since day one when I set out my goal to fight in the UFC. Unfortunately I have been released by the UFC. I look forward to 2019 and the new opportunities that may arise. Thank you all.”
The 30-year-old former Nitro MMA champion joins Yuta Sasaki, Hector Sandoval, Jarred Brooks, Roberto Sanchez, Justin Scoggins, and Jose Torres. So, while the official line may be that the future of the flyweight division is anything other than decided, the current actions of the UFC paint a grim future for fighters who want to compete in the Octagon at 125 lbs.
