Henry Cejudo Claims The UFC Has Cut Dustin Ortiz & Matheus Nicolau

UFC Flyweight Champion Henry Cejudo last competed at UFC Fight Night Brooklyn, defeating UFC Bantamweight Champion TJ Dillashaw by first round TKO.

The flyweight champion has been on a quest to save the UFC Flyweight Division, but that hasn’t stopped the promotion from apparently cutting two fighters.

“If you look at 125 right now, they just cut Dustin Ortiz,” Cejudo told MMA Junkie. “This guy just had what could have been a split decision win to (Joseph) Benavidez. These are the top guys in the world. You’re going to cut the No. 3 or No. 4 guy in the world? That just tells you where these guys’ heads are at. It’s unfortunate. I’m trying to do my best, but at the same time I’m not going to have a belt with nobody in my weight class. You got rid of Ortiz, you got rid of Matheus Nicolau, these great guys. I don’t know who else they got rid of. There’s probably only about 10 of us left. So it sucks, it’s scary.”

Bloody Elbow has reported that Nicolau is indeed gone from the UFC, but was unable to confirm the status of Ortiz at this time.

Cejudo feels like he has resurrected the UFC Flyweight Division, but is unsure of that sentiment now.

“I think the UFC, they’re kind of weeding people out,” Cejudo said. “By the time I look back there’s nobody. It has nothing to do with me. I’m doing my job, I’m fighting for the flyweight division. I said it. I tried to do a negotiation deal with Dana White on national television. He wouldn’t do it. I think that’s a question you would have to ask the boss and his people. I feel like I resurrected this division. I speak three languages, I’m pretty handsome myself. I’m aight.” 

Ortiz is still ranked in the UFC Flyweight Division rankings and there has been no comment from the UFC on the status of either Ortiz or Nicolau.