It looks like the featherweight division just got one man smaller as Swedish prospect and grappling ace Niklas Backstrom announced his release from the UFC.
It's been a rough month for young fighters in the UFC. First, Frankie Perez hung up the spurs fresh off the biggest win of his career, then Jordan Mein decided to put an end to his 9 year 40 fight cage fighting run at the ripe old age of 25. While he doesn't look like he's about to stop fighting, the UFC run of another promising young fighter has apparently been cut short, as Niklas Backstrom announced his release from the UFC on John Gooden's "Octagonside" podcast (transcription via MMANytt).