UFC roster subject to unprecedented 19-contract cull

Former UFC title challengers Jon Fitch and Vladimir Matyushenko were amongst 19 fighters dropped from the promotion recently in one of the largest roster trimmings in company history.

February saw fighters Jacob Volkmann, Terry Etim, Jorge Santiago, Che Mills and many more dropped from the world’s premier promotion following defeats, while TUF alumnus Matt Riddle got his walking papers after failing a second drugs test due to marijuana.

The recent intake of contracts from the now-defunct Strikeforce as well as the establishing of a women’s bantamweight division, combined with a limited number of fight opportunities, forced the UFC’s hand.

UFC president Dana White told the press recently the promotion had around 100 fighters too many on its books. “The blood has not all been spilled yet. There’s more (cuts) coming,” he added.

Faber willing to fight Edgar at featherweight

Refreshed UFC bantamweight Urijah Faber recently revealed he would be interested in fighting former 155lb UFC champ Frankie Edgar at featherweight.

A former WEC 145lb champion, Faber – next due to meet Scott Jorgensen on the TUF 17 Finale – told Sherdog Radio he “wouldn’t mind taking a fight at 145lb” and said a bout with Edgar “sounds like a huge fight.”

“Frankie, as far as I’m concerned, if he gets the nod on Benson Henderson, he’s one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world,” Faber said.

“Then he goes in against who I feel is the best fighter pound-for-pound in the world in José Aldo and has a great fight with him.”

Faber added: “I’ve had a long career where I feel like I could be able to cash in at this point.”

Back talk: Tom Watson (UFC middleweight)

“I don’t think it’s as harsh as a lot of people are making it out to be. I think people forget that the UFC is the pinnacle of the sport but the UFC isn’t the sport, MMA is. There are all the other shows that are the equivalent of Premier League soccer, whilst the UFC is Champions League soccer.”