Thales Leites, who less than four months ago competed for the UFC middleweight title, was given his walking papers in a meeting Wednesday afternoon with the UFC, FanHouse confirmed with a source close to Leites. Leites (14-3) had exclusively fought for the UFC since The Ultimate Fighter 4 Finale in November 2006, where he lost his promotional debut to Martin Kampmann, but would bounce back with five straight wins to earn a shot against champion Anderson Silva. However, after the two turned out a lackluster and tentative five-round performance, both faced heavy criticism and required a strong follow-up outing to restore their reputation.
Both were in action last Saturday at UFC 101 for their next fights and Silva stole the show with his dismantling of former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, but Leites on the other hand, dropped a split decision to Alessio Sakara for his second straight fight decided on the scorecards. It was a close fight but the result was apparently enough for the UFC to release him.
Although the loss was the Nova Uniao member's first back-to-back of his career and an exit from the UFC is obviously a regression, Leites is a fighter that should have no trouble finding a new promotion to compete for as he could instantly be a contender in any other organization.
FanHouse has also learned that George Roop and Dan Cramer have been cut following losses at UFC 101.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wow! Now this is stupid. I would have given him one more fight.
If you are going to be boring you better at least win. Fans have booed Thales in his last two fights. It doesn't matter how talented you are if the promoters can't get people excited to watch you fight. I remember hearing in late 2007-early 2008 that Lyoto Machida might be cut if he would finally lose a fight because everyone thought he was so boring to watch.
UFC does this so fighters can get their act together. Its not a punishment. Tamdan Mcrory also was released.
yea, they're real humanitarians, we're real lucky to have you point that out, (as only you would), otherwise we'd think the ufc just see's its underpaid employees as disposable throwaways... after they use them up for pratically free first.
ur such an idiot.
Good. He turtled up vs Silva and put on another boring fight. I don't want to watch him fight anymore.
I rather be released than underpaid....
UFC is taking advantage of these fighters...
You don't know what you're talking about
Anderson Silva is the best pound for pound according to Dana but he couldn't even finish this guy and I think one judge even gave Leites a round, but he isn't good enough to fight in the UFC. Dana is just all about money and Leites isn't a big draw. Why does everyone have to fight Silva's style, why can't he try to fight someone elses style. It takes two to make a boring fight and Silva was just as much to blame for that boring fight as Leites. He had the guy down but was too scared to do anything about it. The fans booed him and Leites and they were right in doing so because neither fighter wanted to fight the other ones style. Silva is not best pound for pound. His attitude is fight my style or I won't fight. He even says hisself that he just tries to win and that the fans don't understand MMA. Well that is all that Leites was trying to do was win and get Anderson to fight his style. Silva is a good ground fighter too but if he thinks someone is better he won't mess with it.
Don't you all get it. Its not about the best fighters. Its about the fighters who will bring the most cash. Why do you think a guy with a 2 and 1 recordor gets to fight for a title while there are two other undefeated guys with over 10 fights each who have to fight each other, before they get a title fight. C Can You say "More Money, More Money"