Yoel Romero’s recent UFC release is one of many that will come by the end of 2020, says the UFC president Dana White.
A multi-time UFC middleweight title challenger, Romero (13-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) was released from the promotion after over seven years with the company.
At the UFC on ESPN 19 post-fight news conference, however, White revealed Romero’s release was not an isolated case. The UFC roster is “inflated,” according to White – so more names will follow as 2020 winds down.
“It’s not just Yoel,” White told MMA Junkie, at UFC on ESPN 19 post-fight news conference. “We’re going to go through some serious cuts here at the end of the year. We’re probably going to have 60 cuts before the first of the year. Yoel has lost four of his last five. He’s 44 years old. Our roster is very inflated right now. We’re going to have some big cuts coming before the end of the year. You’re going to see a lot of names going here in the next several weeks. … These are the tough decisions you have to make.”
Although he didn’t capture a title, Romero still left his mark in the UFC.
He has the third-most knockouts in middleweight history (seven), the third-most knockdowns (10), is one of two fighters in UFC history with multiple flying knee finishes, along with other accolades.
Yoel Romero and the UFC have parted ways, multiple sources told @arielhelwani. pic.twitter.com/TdaoL9tNFZ
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 5, 2020
