Ronys Torres parts ways with PFL after NYSAC issue

Ronys Torres is no longer in the Professional Fighters League roster, he told MMA Fighting on Friday.

The Brazilian veteran was slated to face lightweight Ramsey Nijem at Thursday night’s PFL card in Long Island, but was pulled from the card after not getting medically cleared by the New York State Athletic Commission.

On his social media, Torres revealed that the NYSAC wouldn’t clear him based on an eye surgery he underwent a decade ago. Since PFL is doing most of its events in the New York area, and Torres likely wouldn’t get licensed to fight there, the fighter and the promotion came to an agreement and he was released from his contract.

“It’s upsetting because I’ve trained hard and cut weight for this fight,” Torres told MMA Fighting. “It was a dream for me to be part of this show. They have great athletes, the level is high, but I knew I could get to the finals, but I always leave my life in God’s hands.”

Torres suffered a detached retina in 2009, prior to a planned UFC debut versus Jeremy Stephens. He won 24 of 29 fights since having the surgery, with two of those defeats coming inside the UFC Octagon in Las Vegas and Charlotte. Torres fought for the last time in Aug. 2018, at Shooto Brazil, a promotion sanctioned by the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA), winning the vacant 160-pound title.

The Nova Uniao lightweight said he needs to undergo another surgery, but plans on fighting “once or twice” before going under the knife later this year.

“The good thing is that the doors are open for me at PFL,” Torres said. “I spoke with Ray Sefo, told him that I wanted to continue on the league, and he told me to take care of my eye and come back in 2020, that he wants to see me fighting there next year because he likes my style, he likes that I always going for the finish.”

Torres (38-6) has 13 of his 14 bouts since 2013, finishing 11 opponents in the process. The 32-year-old Brazilian competed twice under the UFC banner in 2010, losing decisions to Melvin Guillard and Jacob Volkmann.