White explains Romero’s release, promises 60 more cuts for 2020

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

It’s cutting season in the UFC, and according to Dana White, Yoel Romero is only one of the first of many casualties. Shortly after his UFC release in November, flyweight contender Jussie…


UFC 248 Adesanya v Romero
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

It’s cutting season in the UFC, and according to Dana White, Yoel Romero is only one of the first of many casualties.

Shortly after his UFC release in November, flyweight contender Jussier Formiga revealed that the company was planning to release 75 more fighters from its roster. As it turns out, his statements weren’t that far off.

UFC president Dana White himself revealed on Saturday’s UFC Vegas 16 post-fight presser stating that around 60 more fighters will be cut from the “very inflated” roster. They already began the wave of releases on Friday with Yoel Romero, which White also talked about.

“We’re gonna go through some serious cuts here at the end of the year,” he said. “Probably gonna have 60 cuts coming up before the first of the year. And Yoel has lost four of his last five (fights), he’s 44 years old. Our roster is very inflated right now.

“So we’re gonna have some big cuts coming before the end of the year. You’re gonna see a lot of names going here in the next several weeks.”

In August, White already stated that the more fighters they sign through the Contender Series would mean more roster cuts are coming. “It’s all a numbers game,” he said, adding the company can only have so many fighters under contract since they’re obliged to give each one up to three fighters per year.