Dana White Might Release Some of His Fighters?

[Mr. C]

The only promotions left to compete with the UFC are Dream and Strikeforce, and they're struggling to even rival the numbers the UFC has, but one thing I've taken notice of in the organization is how fast they cut fighters. I understand that if you don't step up to the plate, you'll be gone faster than they signed you. I agree with this, but is the UFC truly giving fighters a chance in the company to get their feet wet?

After Tim Sylvia's defeats to Antonio Nogueira and Randy Couture, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion was cut from the UFC without any hesitation. Since being cut, Sylvia has lost to Fedor Emelianenko and Ray Mercer and finally ended his losing streak against Jason Riley. This guy was once the top fighter in his division, but fell into a rut, and the UFC decided to release him.

What I'm worried about now is what if the UFC starts cutting fighters in each division?

Anderson Silva
Silva is without a doubt the best on the planet, fighting from middleweight to light heavyweight and leaving a trail of destruction behind him, but sadly, he isn't the fighter he was when he came into the UFC. The truth is we all know why Silva is the way he is. He's bored with the fights he's been given. That's a reason for White to release him, and he has an advantage on the people he's fighting. The only threat to Silva at middleweight as of now is Vitor Belfort, and I can't wait for that fight to happen. Silva is the one man the UFC can't afford to cut because it would be one of the biggest mistakes in history. A lot of fans would want White's head if he did that. Can you imagine if Strikeforce landed Silva? That would be the top two fighters not in the UFC, but if that happened, we might finally see Silva vs. Fedor.

Gabriel Gonzaga
Gonzaga was once the #1 contender in the heavyweight division by giving Mirko Cro Cop a taste of his own medicine. After that fight, he was the #1 contender against Couture and lost by 3rd round TKO. Since losing to Couture, he's gone 3-3. He beat Chris Tuchscherer, Josh Hendricks, and Justin McCully, but has lost to Fabricio Werdum, Junior Dos Santos, and Shane Carwin. He needs some time off and should fight a heavyweight like Nogueira or Roy Nelson.

Kimbo Slice
I fear Kimbo's days are numbered with the heavyweights out there like Brock Lesnar, but the UFC can set up a number of fights with Kimbo. Some have even called for Kimbo to fight Chuck Liddell. Kimbo is a draw for the UFC, win or lose.

[Mr. C]

Can you imagine a Christmas card on December 25th (UFC 122?) with Silva/Belfort, Nogueira/Gonzaga, and Liddell/Kimbo?

[Impact!]

Kimbo will lose to Mitrione and then get cut. Hooray

[Rammsteinmad]

Maybe he's clearing up space so that there's room for Jason David Frank on the roster. :p

[Savio]

Kimbo will lose to Mitrione and then get cut. Hooray
Nah I suspect one or two more losses after that. The guy draws in money.

[Reavant]

sylvia asked to be released from his contract

[Reavant]

Theyre not cutting anderson.


if gonzaga gets koed again he will probably be cut for safety reasons.

kimbo will continue to fight people around his level, so you never have to worry about him getting smashed by lesnar. but if he cant beat people around him, he will fight the fights on his contract (however many that is) and not be asked back.

[alvarado52]

kimbos too much of a draw to get cut. Not just that, but if a fighter is willing to go out there and throw, Dana seems to appreciate that more than anything else. Wandy hasnt had the best W/L record in the UFC, but he goes out and fights, and because of that, Dana hasnt even come close to cutting him.

Silva on the other hand...i'd say he's got more of a chance to be cut.

[James Steele]

Surely, even Dana White's douchebag ass understands that UFC would lose all credibility if he cuts the BEST POUND-FOR-POUND FIGHTER IN THE WORLD.

[Krimzon7]

Surely, even Dana White's douchebag ass understands that UFC would lose all credibility if he cuts the BEST POUND-FOR-POUND FIGHTER IN THE WORLD.

How much credibility would he lose if he let the biggest pound for pound dumb ass fighter fuck up any more Main events, or fight cards?


Silva should be on the bubble, because one man does not make the promotion.

[James Steele]

Don't put him in main events, but you can't claim to be the best fight organization when you CUT the best fighter in the world.

[alvarado52]

Don't put him in main events, but you can't claim to be the best fight organization when you CUT the best fighter in the world.

something tells me they have enough talent to still hold onto that title :roll:

[James Steele]

something tells me they have enough talent to still hold onto that title :roll:

They obviously don't have enough talent to find anyone who can challenge Anderson Silva.

[Krimzon7]

JS, I honestly don't think there is anyone who can challenge Anderson Silva.

[James Steele]

Then, how are you going to cut a fighter because he is so dominant that he has to bullshit around in the fight in order to give the guy a chance?

[Reavant]

as a fighter it is your responsibility to compete. Anderson silva did not do that in his last one out. If you are a promoter, it is your responsibility to put fighters on cards who will compete. Now if anderson does the bull shit he did, no one will want to watch him and it will hurt the numbers of the ufc. If anderson does it again, he will be cut, but not until he does it again.

This isnt like a case of a team sport like football where you keep a cancerous guy in the locker room around because he performs so well on sundays. Andersons performance hurt the ufc in a big way. He would deserve to be cut.

[James Steele]

No, his job as a fighter is to win. He is doing it.

[Reavant]

the organization and sport are bigger than a fighter.... he was given the rank as best pound for pound by his performances. He wouldnt be called that if a majority of his fights were like his last one.

[Reavant]

No, his job as a fighter is to win. He is doing it.

and no it is to compete... if it were win, then a purse would only be given to the winner

[James Steele]

and no it is to compete... if it were win, then a purse would only be given to the winner

It'd be illegal not to pay both competitors.

[James Steele]

I understand Dana wanting fighters to compete and go all out to entertain the fans. Going balls out is how most above average fighters overachieve. Silva owes Dana and MMA fans nothing. Silva doesn't need to compensate for a lack of talent with heart and shit, his job is to win his fights and retain his championships.

[Reavant]

It'd be illegal not to pay both competitors.

right... because the whole point is that the two guys are competing

[Reavant]

I understand Dana wanting fighters to compete and go all out to entertain the fans. Going balls out is how most above average fighters overachieve. Silva owes Dana and MMA fans nothing. Silva doesn't need to compensate for a lack of talent with heart and shit, his job is to win his fights and retain his championships.

yes he does, because his performance affects buys

[James Steele]

right... because the whole point is that the two guys are competing

He is competing, but he isn't being dumb and going all out like a savage just so Dana White can buy a new car. He is competing, but not at 100% because he doesn't have to which is common sense.

[James Steele]

yes he does, because his performance affects buys

Has he not been a draw? If Dana wants UFC to be looked at as legitimate and not just human cock-fighting in arenas then he can't be solely concerned about making money. He needs to find somebody who can remotely challenge Silva. I do not understand how a mma promotion can cut the best fighter in the world because he isn't sacrificing himself while fighting people who aren't even close to his level.

[Reavant]

Dude come on now. Are you really breaking out the human cockfighting shit right now.

There is a different between fighting smart and not fighting at all. Aldo v faber is an example of smart fighting. Faber is always dangerous so aldo was picking his shots, but was still taking them. Anderson not only did NOT pick his shots, but then ran from any exchanges. Dont tell me, with his level of striking, that he had something to worry about with demian on the feet. Further more dont tell me that was his best efforts.

This is his job. He gets paid to do it. Dont get confused with fighting stupid with putting effort into the fight. If hes not going to put effort into what he does, he shouldnt get paid like he does or keep the job he has. How is that any different with any other job?

[James Steele]

Well, when your boss says you are the best in the world at your job things are different and he is winning fights. It isn't like he is bullshitting around and getting beat. He is going half-ass and still whooping ass.

My main point is that UFC can't be taken as seriously as they want to be if they cut the "best fighter in the world" according to them. I agree, he shouldn't be put in main events and making the big money with the way he is performing but you can't seriously cut a guy just because he isn't sacrificing his body to beat Joe Schmuck in 30 seconds instead of just beating him with minimal effort and minimal risk.

[Nark Order]

Can he continue to be billed as "the best pound for pound fighter in the world" if he continues fighting like an ametuer in every fight? Of course not. It's all about competition and displaying skill. Anderson can have all the skill in the universe but if he chooses not to display it, then he doesn't belong where he is.

[James Steele]

Can he continue to be billed as "the best pound for pound fighter in the world" if he continues fighting like an ametuer in every fight? Of course not. It's all about competition and displaying skill. Anderson can have all the skill in the universe but if he chooses not to display it, then he doesn't belong where he is.

He has been crowned "the best pound for pound fighter in the world" and holds two titles. He is beating everybodys ass while going half-ass. I'd say until he gets challenged/beat, he should keep doing what he is doing because it is obviously working.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

First, I don't like what Anderson Silva does.

Second, he's a damn good fighter. They need to make the distinction between being a good fighter, and being unsportsmanlike like. The fact that he dances around and talks shit doesn't mean he isn't talented, it means he's a prick. People may not want to pay to see him fight because of it. However, it doesn't diminish his fighting ability.

With that said, I do agree with Dana saying that he believes most people would rather see a first round knockout, than a five round fight where the guy dances around like a fucking idiot.

[Impact!]

He has been crowned "the best pound for pound fighter in the world" and holds two titles. He is beating everybodys ass while going half-ass. I'd say until he gets challenged/beat, he should keep doing what he is doing because it is obviously working.

He holds two titles?

[James Steele]

He holds two titles?

Well, I was counting his Pride unification, but anyway he would hold two UFC titles if he grew a set and fought his BFF.

[James Steele]

My point is that, yes, Silva shouldn't be main eventing or even on PPV cards but you can call yourself the flagship company of a legitimate sport if you fire a guy because he is so much better than everybody else.

[Impact!]

That's the thing though isn't it. They would be firing him for not fighting, not for being "better" than everyone else.

[James Steele]

That's the thing though isn't it. They would be firing him for not fighting, not for being "better" than everyone else.

He is fighting...and WINNING.

[Impact!]

Not really, no. He is winning, but if he is that good he should be able to finish his fights.

[James Steele]

Not really, no. He is winning, but if he is that good he should be able to finish his fights.

See this is the argument, I don't think he has to fight a certain way just to give Dana White a boner. He just has to fight to win, and he is doing that.

[Krimzon7]

JS, this is MMA. There is an honor, a code even among fighters. One of the first things you learn when you compete in this arena is 'NEVER LET YOUR FIGHT GO TO THE JUDGES'. Dana didn't coin that term. If you can, you finish the fight.

Boxers don't learn this, hell they don't evne care anymore, as made obvious by the bullshit that i saw last night. Dana isn't being a dick to get a new car, he knows why people buy the ppvs, and he knows why people are divorcing boxing for mma. By Silva doing the stuff he's done in his last few fights, he drives more comparisons to something more dastardly than Human Cockfigthing....MMA looking like Boxing.

[Reavant]

Well, I was counting his Pride unification, but anyway he would hold two UFC titles if he grew a set and fought his BFF.

he never won a belt in pride

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Boxers don't learn this, hell they don't evne care anymore, as made obvious by the bullshit that i saw last night. Dana isn't being a dick to get a new car, he knows why people buy the ppvs, and he knows why people are divorcing boxing for mma. By Silva doing the stuff he's done in his last few fights, he drives more comparisons to something more dastardly than Human Cockfigthing....MMA looking like Boxing.

Bullshit? Last night was a great display of boxing. I didn't like Anderson Silva clowning on a fellow professional, but saying you "go all out to finish the fight" is fucking idiotic. If Anderson Silva thinks he can do enough to win without putting his chin out there to get hit, then he should do exactly that. What differentiates the art or sport of boxing/fighting from a brawl is knowing that avoiding being hit is as important as hitting your opponent. I'd rather see a display of skill than two knuckleheads staggering around windmilling punches.

[Reavant]

Theres a difference in not getting hit by using your skills (slipping parrying punches) and not getting hit because you are running away and avoiding any contact (what anderson did the last two and a half rounds)

[El Capitano Gatisto]

I agree there, I am just contending the notion Anderson Silva (or anyone else) should look to stop their opponent in every fight. What he did in the last fight was embarrassing for everyone involved, but Maia has to take some responsibility too for being like a rabbit in headlights and Dana White for feeding Maia to him. It was a total mismatch. Maia refused to come forward until too late in the fight, did he even make a single takedown attempt?

Seeing a fighter fed to Anderson Silva to be knocked out within a round doesn't entertain me any more than that clowning.

[Reavant]

yea he made a lot of takedown attempts..... but they were from across the cage because he was afraid of getting hit which doesnt work. Ever.

[James Steele]

yea he made a lot of takedown attempts..... but they were from across the cage because he was afraid of getting hit which doesnt work. Ever.

If he is that much of a dumb pussy, why is he fighting for the championship?

[Reavant]

when did i call him a dumb pussy?

[James Steele]

when did i call him a dumb pussy?

You didn't. I did.

[Reavant]

alright your a fucking moron....


saying hes afraid of getting hit silva is not a slight to his manhood. Look at what happened to all the fighters who weren't afraid. HOWEVER you are going to have to get near silva (or anyone else) to take him down. be it cut under them when they are coming near you or set up a takedown with strikes, but hanging out a body's length from your opponent is going to make every attempt you make advertised like a highway billboard.

[James Steele]

alright your a fucking moron....


saying hes afraid of getting hit silva is not a slight to his manhood. Look at what happened to all the fighters who weren't afraid. HOWEVER you are going to have to get near silva (or anyone else) to take him down. be it cut under them when they are coming near you or set up a takedown with strikes, but hanging out a body's length from your opponent is going to make every attempt you make advertised like a highway billboard.

He is afraid to "go all out" and he is too dumb to adjust in a fight. He has no business fighting for a championship.

[Krimzon7]

Bullshit? Last night was a great display of boxing. I didn't like Anderson Silva clowning on a fellow professional, but saying you "go all out to finish the fight" is fucking idiotic. If Anderson Silva thinks he can do enough to win without putting his chin out there to get hit, then he should do exactly that. What differentiates the art or sport of boxing/fighting from a brawl is knowing that avoiding being hit is as important as hitting your opponent. I'd rather see a display of skill than two knuckleheads staggering around windmilling punches.



Lol, the bullshit in the two posts is the fact that you missed the part where I say that fighters are taught to finish the fight IF YOU CAN. To coin a term from Michale Cole, VINTAGE ECG....

[El Capitano Gatisto]

JS, this is MMA. There is an honor, a code even among fighters. One of the first things you learn when you compete in this arena is 'NEVER LET YOUR FIGHT GO TO THE JUDGES'.

Of course that qualifier negates this bollocks.

Make up your mind you gimp.

[Johnny McNasty]

he never won a belt in pride

Believe he is talking about his fight against Henderson where the titles were unified.

I can't say I was happy to see Anderson to act the way he did in his last fight, but it wasn't something that I thought was cowardly or unwatchable. Was still entertained through out, and Anderson did what he had to do to get the win. I'm Sure his next fight he will come out and give us a stellar knockout, and no one will remember the fight with Maia.

[Krimzon7]

Of course that qualifier negates this bollocks.

Make up your mind you gimp.

I get it ECG, you're an asshole troll. My mind is made up. What is it that your feeble mind can't comprehend?

You are taught to finish a fight IF YOU CAN. If you have such a decided advantage over your competitor, you don't bullshit around, you either knock him out with your superior striking, or take them down and submit them with your superior ground game. YOU FINISH THE FIGHT. Silva has superior striking than *insert name here*. He has the ability to initiate offense, and finish a fight.

A perfect example of a fighter who couldn't finish his opponent would be Edgar/Penn, ironically on the same card. He had a game plan, he executed his plan to perfection and won a decision.

[abec]

You dont train to finish a fight IF YOU CAN, thats just absurd. You train to win and there is a big difference between the two comments. When Dana puts you in 3 times or more a year to defend your belt, you do what you can to stay healthy. Anderson didn't do a thing wrong, he did what he needed to do to be prepared for Sonnen and Belfort whom he's probably going to have to fight both this year. Why waste your efforts on a nobody that doesn't even belong in the ring with you? Risk injury over bullshit and listen to people bitch more that he doesn't defend his title enough? Dana should have never made that bout.

Just because a fights 'boring' ( of which I highly disagree that this was boring ) doesn't mean its wrong. I much enjoyed the fight.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

I get it ECG, you're an asshole troll. My mind is made up. What is it that your feeble mind can't comprehend?

You are taught to finish a fight IF YOU CAN. If you have such a decided advantage over your competitor, you don't bullshit around, you either knock him out with your superior striking, or take them down and submit them with your superior ground game. YOU FINISH THE FIGHT. Silva has superior striking than *insert name here*. He has the ability to initiate offense, and finish a fight.

A perfect example of a fighter who couldn't finish his opponent would be Edgar/Penn, ironically on the same card. He had a game plan, he executed his plan to perfection and won a decision.

Read your own post you fuckwit. Read the part I quoted.

JS, this is MMA. There is an honor, a code even among fighters. One of the first things you learn when you compete in this arena is 'NEVER LET YOUR FIGHT GO TO THE JUDGES'. Dana didn't coin that term. If you can, you finish the fight.


Anderson Silva behaved like a twat but Maia did not engage. He was afraid of getting hurt. Silva mocking him was wrong but there is absolutely no need for Anderson Silva to put himself out there to finish the fight when he was winning it comfortably.

That is a totally different issue from clowning your opponent, turning your back on him and running away. When Silva beat Maia up for two/three rounds, it was Maia who needed to push the fight to win, he was the one who needed to stop it. He couldn't and he didn't even try.

Maia has to take responsibility for that. Dana White has to take the responsibility for feeding someone to Anderson Silva. Silva only has to explain his unprofessional behaviour, not why he didn't knock Maia out.

Further, this stuff comparing boxing to MMA is bullshit. I watch and enjoy both. There's no reason why everyone can't, they are two different sports. Mayweather put on a breath-taking display of the art of boxing on Saturday night, that you are bitching about it because you didn't see a knock-out suggests you are an idiot.

[ImpactPlayer365]

Well that guy was the third option for a fight with Silva. Vitor Belfort and Hael Sonnen were hurt so he stepped up. If your paying that much for a PPV and the damn sport is Ultimate Fighting...then yes your best pound for pound fighter should fight. If he's as good as he really thinks he is he would have went to the ground with him but he knew if he did he would be the one getting tapped out. Silva is great...and who are any of us to tell him how to fight, but when I'm paying money to see FIGHTING...then he should attempt to kck some ass and finish fights. He was scared to go to the ground with him...so why act like a jackass when you know if it went to the ground he would probly tap. Besides that weight division is weak anyhow. No one should buy a PPV with a 185 lb championship as the main event anymore.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

...if he knew he would be at a disadvantage on the ground then why the fuck would he go there? That would just be moronic. It's Maia's job to take him down and he couldn't. That's like saying Maia should have went toe to toe with Silva, in reality he'd have probably been put it a coma. It's not cowardly to minimise your weaknesses, it's part of the fucking sport. And it is a sport, remember. It's not cock-fighting or bear-baiting. No one HAS to be injured or knocked-out, they're there to win their bouts.

[Impact!]

Kimbo will lose to Mitrione and then get cut. Hooray

Boom