UFC flyweight contender Jussier Formiga doesn’t want the flyweight division doesn’t come to an end, as has been rumored.
UFC flyweight contender Jussier Formiga can’t catch a break.
After finally putting together a three-fight winning streak and becoming the number 1 fighter in the division’s rankings, reports have surfaced that the UFC plans to shut down flyweight, likely after a super-fight between champion Henry Cejudo and bantamweight titleholder, TJ Dillashaw.
Frustrated about the news, Formiga tells Combate he still holds a glimmer of hope, as he expects the news not to come true. However, Jussier explains he is also ready to make the move to the bantamweight division if needed.
“Work can’t stop, that’s the truth,” Formiga said. “I fought 30 days ago, but I only took one week off and I’m training again. That’s our job and we must be ready at all times. Then came those news that the division could end in 2019. I don’t know if that’s a sure thing or not, the UFC hasn’t made it official to us yet. If it ends, it’s going to be sad, because I just got at the number one spot. But I see it differently. The Cejudo vs. Dillashaw fight will be at flyweight, so they might want to continue the division after that fight.
“That makes me excited, but we’ll keep on working and, if it really ends, unfortunately we will have to move up. I don’t believe the division will end. I’m really counting on that, I believe there are many top notch guys in that division, guys with enough potential to go against Cejudo and take his belt. I’m optimistic about that.”
If Formiga is left with no other choice but moving to bantamweight, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert explains it won’t be all bad.
“Of course I’m already mentally preparing myself for the change,” Formiga said. “If it ends, we’ll have no other choice but to come up with a plan to gain more weight. We’re too light to fight at bantamweight. I only need to cut nine pounds to make flyweight, which is not much. Lineker is a small guy who does well at bantamweight. That gives me hope to move up. In a way, my diet will be less strict, because there will be guys cutting from 19 to 24 pounds. I’ll be cutting, nine, that’s practically half as much. On the other hand, we’ll have the size disadvantage and other factors that might make things confusing.”
Jussier Formiga’s (22-5) current winning streak has come against Ulka Sasaki, Ben Nguyen and, most recently, Sergio Pettis. The 33-year-old hasn’t lost since March 2017, when Ray Borg bested him via unanimous decision.