David Terrell released by the UFC

T-Bone · 02-21-2008, 12:25 PM

Source is GracieFighter.com...hence the "RUMOR" in the thread title.

Yeah, remember...Terrell really was supposed to be The Man.

Quote:

One-time middleweight prospect David Terrell (not to be confused with welterweight Dave Terrel of the WEC) has been formally released by the UFC, according to a report by GracieFighter.com:

David Terrell has been officialy released from his UFC contract. He first debuted in the UFC back in August of 2004 where he shocked the MMA world with a vicious knockout win over heavily favored Matt Linland in the early seconds of the 1st round. He then lost a title fight against Evan Tanner and then rebounded by beating Scott Smith in April of 2006.

Unfortunatelty that was the last we saw of Terrell fighting in the Octagon. Plagued by injuries and unhappy with the financial terms of his bout agreements, Terrell sat out the remainder of his contract. Now focused on getting his career back on track, Terrell will be looking to signing and fighting with another organization.

Terrell had been scheduled to return at UFC 78 this past November against Ed Herman. However, he pulled out of the fight after injuring his ankle during training and was replaced by Joe Doerksen.

GracieFighter.com is operated by Cesar Gracie, who is Terrell’s MMA trainer. Terrell is also one of only two people to receive black belts from Gracie, with Nick Diaz being the other. The report on the site confirms rumors that had been circulating which suggested that Terrell was unhappy with his contracted pay from the UFC. There were even those close to Terrell who believe that he would have competed in spite of some of his injuries had he been happier with his pay.

The report on Gracie Fighter also makes it clear that Terrell wants to continue his MMA career with another organization. The odds-on favorite is EliteXC, which already has a relationship with Gracie through deals with Diaz and Jake Shields.

Newer fans will be unfamiliar with Terrell because he’s competed just once during the “TUF era,” but let me tell you that at one point he was ticketed for stardom in the sport. Name an athlete in a mainstream sport that had All-Star potential but never reached that level because of durability issues, and that’s David Terrell.

Five Ounces of Pain | David Terrell released by the UFC

Mulla · 02-21-2008, 12:27 PM

I was listening to a Scott Smith interview recently and they were saying about the controversy that surrounded his fight with Terrell...anyone know what happened? I havent seen the fight.

takenover · 02-21-2008, 12:30 PM

He's pretty tuff. Be glad to see him fight again.
Dont really care for those close to him stated though.

KungFuGrip · 02-21-2008, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Win Scott Smith Submission (Other) UFC 59: Reality Check 04/15/2006 1 0:00

Thats whats listed on the UFC website. How do you win by submmission before the rd starts lol?

Gooner · 02-21-2008, 12:34 PM

Can't say I'm surprised.
Terrell needs to get in there and prove himself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulla

I was listening to a Scott Smith interview recently and they were saying about the controversy that surrounded his fight with Terrell...anyone know what happened? I havent seen the fight.

They were clinching next to the cage, nothing was happening, and the ref yelled "break".
Terrell took Smith down (immediately) after that (Smith was looking at the ref like

), ref didn't do anything, Terrell got the RNC.

Needless to say, Smith was pissed.

T-Bone · 02-21-2008, 12:34 PM

I saw that fight a few times (not live). It was strange...and one of the reasons Scott Smith was invited to the TUF Comeback Season.

- SMITH FILES APPEAL WITH CSAC FROM UFC 59 FIGHT - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more

GSPALLTHEWAY · 02-21-2008, 02:04 PM

basically smith said he never tapped, althought it sure looked like it... terrell had him done..

CounterPuncher · 02-21-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSPALLTHEWAY

basically smith said he never tapped, althought it sure looked like it... terrell had him done..

I don't think that was the thing Smith was arguing about, because he was trying to say something long before Terrell even started to sink in the RNC.

asronn · 02-21-2008, 04:18 PM

yeah the ref called a break, Smith broke and Terrel took his back during the supposed break and the ref did nothing

ChipShank · 02-21-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CounterPuncher

I don't think that was the thing Smith was arguing about, because he was trying to say something long before Terrell even started to sink in the RNC.

Yeah, as it was mentioned...The ref called for them to break and Smith stopped, but Terrell never really did. I kind of amounted to a restart with Terrell in a very superior position, if I remember correctly. It was very bizarre and very, very poor reffing. No way that he should have let the action restart the way that it did. Protect yourself at all times...yeah...but you shouldn't need to protect yourself against idiotic reffing.

As far as the UFC releasing him. Probably for the best all the way around. He had the one notable win (Lindland), a beating from Tanner and then that bogus win against Smith. I don't know that the UFC is losing that much and given his track record of back outs over the last couple of years...Terrell clearly needs to get his head and training regime together and build up some momentum again in the smaller organizations.
Do fighters deal with injuries in training?....yes...But his record of pulling out of fights due to injury since 05' (IMO) signals more than just a streak of bad luck. Not knocking him....I just think that he may have lost a little mental toughness over the last couple years after the Tanner pummling. The Smith fight was a full 10mo. after he lost to Tanner & now it's been almost 2 full years since that bizarre Smith fight. He probably just needs to grind out a few fights this year in a smaller venue and get his mojo back.

twigz · 02-21-2008, 04:30 PM

About time they let him go...

GSPALLTHEWAY · 02-21-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CounterPuncher

I don't think that was the thing Smith was arguing about, because he was trying to say something long before Terrell even started to sink in the RNC.

ahh your right sorry about that... i only saw it twice, it was hard to see because the UFC didnt exactly what to broadcast that fight cause of that reason

MTKrav911 · 02-21-2008, 08:18 PM

No difference either way.

He was a no show for about 3 shows the last several years.

FightingIrish · 02-21-2008, 08:23 PM

Good riddance. I used to like him, but it's just bs to drop out of three fights in a row.

Flying Triangle Choke · 02-21-2008, 11:30 PM

I think whenever he signs with a new promotion, there needs to be a live press conference so we can see if he gets injured during the contract signing.