UFC Chopping Block?

**dsver1** · 04-29-2008 12:47 PM

Lutter cut from contract, more on the way - MMA Experts Blog - Mixed Martial Arts - Yahoo! Sports

Lutter cut from contract, more on the way
By Dave Meltzer

UFC sent a message to fighters last week by releasing middleweight Travis Lutter from his contract. Lutter holds the distinction of being the only person in UFC to win a round off Anderson Silva, taking the first round of their Feb. 2007 match before tapping out in the second. The other distinction Lutter holds is he's the first winner of the Ultimate Fighter reality show to get released by the promotion.

Lutter won the first round against Franklin in Montreal, before being TKO'd in the second. Lutter gassed badly in round two, and getting cut clearly a message that UFC isn't going to keep people who don't show up in shape to go three rounds.

But it's also the beginning of what are expected to be massive cuts. The company has approximately 200 fighters on the roster, but doesn't run enough events to keep that many fighters working three fights per year.

The decision has apparently been made not to stockpile fighters on contract to keep groups attempting to be competition from signing them.

There is no set number of how many cuts are forthcoming, but the total easily could top 50.

At the biggest risk are fighters who lose boring fights, or lose several fights in a row. The company is trying to emphasize action fights, using both the threats of not bringing people back with boring fights, and increasing the performance bonuses for having the best match or best finish on pay-per view events to $75,000.

**dsver1** · 04-29-2008 12:55 PM

Sam Caplan from Five Ounces of Pain has a more in-depth look at the possible casualties here.

So, how likely do you think the cuts are?
Who will go first?
What upcoming fights are do or die?

I'm also interested in the effect that this will have on other orgs. Someone that struggled in the UFC could be a force and a potential draw in another org (even 2-3 level like EliteXC and Dream). Will this influx of top-ish level fighters help other orgs and hurt the UFC or is the UFC only gaining because they're cutting the dead weight.

Also, let me echo Caplan's comments about how no one likes to see someone lose their job (except a certain BC fighter, cough cough), but that pro sports is all about speculation and hypotheticals.

**Gooner** · 04-29-2008 12:56 PM

I really hope they don't keep too many "exciting" journeymen and thus get rid of actual contenders who are "boring".

Lutter holds the distinction of being the only person in UFC to win a round off Anderson Silva, taking the first round of their Feb. 2007 match before tapping out in the second.

What about Henderson?

**SysRq** · 04-29-2008 12:57 PM

Where would one find a roster list for the UFC?
I had no idea that they had 200 people on the roster!!!

SysRq

**dsver1** · 04-29-2008 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by SysRq

Where would one find a roster list for the UFC?
I had no idea that they had 200 people on the roster!!!

SysRq

Don't know how official this is (I mean it is off UFC.com):

UFC® : Ultimate Fighting Championship®

**Crashsti** · 04-29-2008 01:01 PM

whats worse, being under contract with the UFC and not getting fights? Or being released by the UFC and having the option of fighting elsewhere? Fighters like Lutter basically dug thier own graves, two poor performances by a lack of conditioning is'nt going to win anyone over, especially the boss. Overall MMA has reached the point where you have to be better than just talented, you have to win and also be exciting. Even then its not a given that you'll have a job in what is claimed to be the fastest growing sport.

**SysRq** · 04-29-2008 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by dsver1

Don't know how official this is (I mean it is off UFC.com):

UFC® : Ultimate Fighting Championship®

Hey, Thanks!

SysRq

**Dirty Fighter** · 04-29-2008 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by Gooner

I really hope they don't keep too many "exciting" journeymen and thus get rid of actual contenders who are "boring".

What about Henderson?

Chonan, too. It wasn't a UFC fight, but Chonan is now a UFC fighter.

**Disco** · 04-29-2008 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by Crashsti

whats worse, being under contract with the UFC and not getting fights? Or being released by the UFC and having the option of fighting elsewhere? Fighters like Lutter basically dug thier own graves, two poor performances by a lack of conditioning is'nt going to win anyone over, especially the boss. Overall MMA has reached the point where you have to be better than just talented, you have to win and also be exciting. Even then its not a given that you'll have a job in what is claimed to be the fastest growing sport.

Amen to that brother.

**SysRq** · 04-29-2008 01:11 PM

If they were to cut back the roster what would be a healthy number to sustain the UFC?

I can see some pros and cons to cutting back the roster:

Pros
- Removes some bad apples from the box
- More exposure for some of the unknowns
- Possible increase in fighter pay
- Better events

Cons
- If they really cut back we may see too much of some fighters
- Less matchup options for Joe Silva
- Injuries could cause some major issues if roster was too thin

SysRq

**Gooner** · 04-29-2008 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by Dirty Fighter

Chonan, too. It wasn't a UFC fight, but Chonan is now a UFC fighter.

Wow, you came at it from a crazy angle, brah.

But did Chonan really win a round off Anderson?
Methinks he was losing the fight and then pulled off the sub.
Also, PRIDE didn't have round scoring... that takes the hypotheticality of all this to the next level.
*keeps pondering*

**Beazt** · 04-29-2008 01:25 PM

My opinion of a few high profile guys that UFC shouldn't get rid of....but might.

Sam Stout - I thought he had some real potential. He's young, so maybe he'll come back.
Spencer Fisher - Probably not, but should be worried.
Clay Guida - God I hope not.
Marvin Eastman - Is he even under contract?
Loser of Tanner/Grove - Hopefully Grove

**Dirty Fighter** · 04-29-2008 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Gooner

Wow, you came at it from a crazy angle, brah.

But did Chonan really win a round off Anderson?
Methinks he was losing the fight and then pulled off the sub.
Also, PRIDE didn't have round scoring... that takes the hypotheticality of all this to the next level.
*keeps pondering*

You got me on the no round scoring in Pride, but I think Chonan would have got the decision.

**StrikeHARD** · 04-29-2008 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Gooner

I really hope they don't keep too many "exciting" journeymen and thus get rid of actual contenders who are "boring".

What about Henderson?

Total agreement. I think Henderson won the first round of their fight, no question.

**Malf** · 04-29-2008 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Beazt

My opinion of a few high profile guys that UFC shouldn't get rid of....but might.

Sam Stout - I thought he had some real potential. He's young, so maybe he'll come back.
Spencer Fisher - Probably not, but should be worried.
Clay Guida - God I hope not.
Marvin Eastman - Is he even under contract?
Loser of Tanner/Grove - Hopefully Grove

I don't think any of those guys are at risk. Tanner is at risk of retirement, but diehard MMA fans like him (like me). Here's my possible cut list (just going down alphabetically:

Danny Abbadi - Garbage
Joe Doerksen - (even though I like him)
Justin Eislers - listed, and if he is still there I'd cut him, I don think he is. though.
Rob Emerson - Blah
Melvin Guillard - He was exciting, but how many chances do you get?
Jason Lambert - On the decline badly.
Pete Sell - Has had two exciting fights.... where he got knocked out. The James Thompson of 185.

There's more, but you get the point.

**FightingIrish** · 04-29-2008 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by SysRq

If they were to cut back the roster what would be a healthy number to sustain the UFC?

I can see some pros and cons to cutting back the roster:

Pros
- Removes some bad apples from the box
- More exposure for some of the unknowns
- Possible increase in fighter pay
- Better events

Cons
- If they really cut back we may see too much of some fighters
- Less matchup options for Joe Silva
- Injuries could cause some major issues if roster was too thin

SysRq

This is a good breakdown. I guess 200 is too many, I just hope they don't cut to many of the up and comers because that could backfire badly.

**Gooner** · 04-29-2008 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Malf

I don't think any of those guys are at risk. Tanner is at risk of retirement, but diehard MMA fans like him (like me). Here's my possible cut list (just going down alphabetically:

Danny Abbadi - Garbage
Joe Doerksen - (even though I like him)
Justin Eislers - listed, and if he is still there I'd cut him, I don think he is. though.
Rob Emerson - Blah
Melvin Guillard - He was exciting, but how many chances do you get?
Jason Lambert - On the decline badly.
Pete Sell - Has had two exciting fights.... where he got knocked out. The James Thompson of 185.

There's more, but you get the point.

I don't know whether his contract ended after the Clementi fight or not, but he did fight one random guy elsewhere, and is now "coming back".
I think he might become a new Tito (talking trash and making people want to see him fight)... Except that his style is more exciting and Dana obviously likes him.

Btw, here's the start of said fight:

The fight wasn't stopped there, the ref just pulled a Herb.
Interestingly enough, the other guy fought (and lost) again 8 days later.
No wonder his nickname is "Short Bus".

**KungFuGrip** · 04-29-2008 02:55 PM

Short bus lol. Looks like they are fighting on a moon bounce. I don't like Gulliard's attitude , but I like to watch the guy fight.

**Roy D Chopper** · 04-29-2008 03:17 PM

I'm tired of TUF fighter making up the events anyway. Even though they don't over all make them up it sure feels like ever UFC has some TUF in the main card and they have such great talent besides the reality tv fighters.

**CounterPuncher** · 04-29-2008 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by Malf

I don't think any of those guys are at risk. Tanner is at risk of retirement, but diehard MMA fans like him (like me). Here's my possible cut list (just going down alphabetically:

Danny Abbadi - Garbage
Joe Doerksen - (even though I like him)
Justin Eislers - listed, and if he is still there I'd cut him, I don think he is. though.
Rob Emerson - Blah
Melvin Guillard - He was exciting, but how many chances do you get?
Jason Lambert - On the decline badly.
Pete Sell - Has had two exciting fights.... where he got knocked out. The James Thompson of 185.

There's more, but you get the point.

I agree with your list, but like you mentioned I don't think Eilers is there anymore and I'm not sure Abbadi is either. The only thing I don't agree with is Lambert because I don't really see him being on a decline, I mean he had an upset win against Babalu and then was winning his last fight until Gouveia caught him, so I think he will get another chance, especially if he beats Luis Cane at 84.

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