Dustin Ortiz Says He’s a Free Agent, Wants to Fight Demetrious Johnson

Dustin Ortiz spoke with MMAjunkie about becoming a free agent, his UFC run and more. Highlights are below:

On his UFC run: “I ran with it. I gave it everything I had. It’s disappointing that they’re doing away with the division – if that’s what they’re doing.”

On his loss to Joseph Benavidez: “It didn’t go my way, unfortunately, but it’s time for me to take a step back and say hey, what do I want to do?”

On Henry Cejudo saying he was released: “It just kind of sparked me the way he said it, like I lost and they released me because I was no longer good enough. It didn’t sit well with me. I’m no longer under contract, and I’m a free agent now, and that’s why I’ll be fighting at 125 the next couple of fights.”

On who he wants to face next: “I would love nothing more to fight [Demetrious Johnson]. It doesn’t matter what organization. He’s still one of the best pound-for-pound fighters ever, and to have that opportunity would truly be like nothing else.”

On the flyweight division’s future in the UFC: “I truly believe that they’re letting guys fight out their contract. They come off a loss, they’re going to release them from their contract and just kind of do away with it and make an announcement that Henry is moving up to 135 and there will no longer be any (flyweight) fights in the UFC. That’ll be it. It’s pretty disheartening for all the fighters that have fought and put everything into this sport just to be done away with so effortlessly.”