Jose Torres Announces UFC Release, Hints at Removal of Flyweight Division

Im the 1st to be let go. I didnt get to finish my UFC contract with 2 fights left because they are cutting most of my division n not giving some of us a chance to bump up n prove ourselves like myself. So now it’s time to move on to bigger and better things. Good luck small guys! pic.twitter.com/lUMijsRoDm

— Jose Shorty Torres (@ShortyTorres125) November 7, 2018

Jose Torres has been released from his Ultimate Fighting Championship contract, which he hinted is a sign of the demise of the promotion’s flyweight division.

Torres revealed via Twitter on Wednesday that he was let go by the Las Vegas-based promotion despite still having two fights remaining on his existing deal. “Shorty” went 1-1 in the Octagon while competing at flyweight, defeating Jarred Brooks in his debut at UFC Fight Night 131 before falling to Alex Perez at UFC 227.

FloCombat was first to report the news, adding that some flyweights will be cut from the UFC without being asked to move to bantamweight.

“The flyweight division is going. I did kind of call it. Sadly because I called it and was publicly talking about it first, I probably was first on the chopping block because of that,” Torres said in a video on Twitter. “It’s part of the sport, this stuff happens.”

The UFC has not confirmed that it is dissolving its flyweight division, though rumors about the move have intensified since the promotion traded former 125-pound champion Demetrious Johnson to One Championship for Ben Askren. Additionally, current flyweight king Henry Cejudo is expected to move up to 135 pounds to challenge bantamweight titlist T.J. Dillashaw at a future event.