Justin Willis denies being released from the UFC

Earlier this week, reports surfaced suggesting that UFC heavyweight contender Justin Willis had been released from the promotion. The reason, it was reported, is that Willis turned down a UFC San Antonio fight with Walt Harris because he would not be able to make the division’s 265-pound limit by that point. This apparently rubbed the UFC the wrong way.

According to Justin Willis himself, however, he has not parted ways with the UFC. He’s calling this a big miscommunication.

“It was a big miscommunication and a technical difficulty between me and the UFC,” Willis told MMA Junkie. “I’ll put it like that. But everything has been worked out, and you will have a fight in the near future.”

Willis added that he might have accepted a fight at UFC San Antonio had the UFC offered him a bigger name than Walt Harris. Whatever the case, he says that, despite this miscommunication, he’ll be back in the cage soon. Perhaps as soon as August.

“If it was August, or he had a bigger name … just because you want something doesn’t mean you’re going to get it,” Willis said. “I’m after people with bigger names.”

Justin Willis has made his fair share of enemies in the UFC heavyweight division, most notably Curtis Blaydes, Tai Tuivasa and Andrei Arlovski. All of these men would seem to be happy to learn he’d received his walking papers, but Willis isn’t concerned with them.

“My goal is to be quicker, faster and prettier,” Willis said. “When I come back, I’m coming back with a vengeance. Picasso didn’t rush his art, and I’m not going to let these (expletive) boys rush ‘Big Pretty’s’ art. And (Harris, Tuivasa and Blaydes) can kiss my black ass.”

Do you think we’ll see Justin Willis back in the UFC’s Octagon?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 5/26/2019.