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Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:48 pm EDT

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 <i>Ultimate Fighter</i> 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.

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156 Comments

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  1. team hughes
    1. Posted by team hughes Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    good im sick of boring fights anyway. cut orlafsky
  2. Wraith
    2. Posted by Wraith Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:49 pm EDT

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    Wooo! If they really cut as many as 50 plus fighters, Elite/Strikeforce is going to overflow.
  3. Joe
    3. Posted by Joe Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:38 pm EDT

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    Travis Lutter is a joke. I thought after the fight that it was a very embarassing fight to watch. Franklin did not look so hot either. Glad Lutter is gone. What kind of fool would not be able to make weight in a once in a lifetime opportunity. The only thing that saved Lutter was the worst performance ever from Starnes
  4. One of the Three
    4. Posted by One of the Three Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:43 pm EDT

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    If they want great fights bring back great fighters (Vitor Belfort, Frank Shamrock, Robby Lawler, don't forget Randy, the list goes on). They shouldn't have to pay them to have better fight. The fighter should go in there with a game plan, and then accomplish it. nuff said.
  5. Wraith
    5. Posted by Wraith Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:49 pm EDT

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    Joe R #4.......Maybe Lutter and Starnes can join forces and start their own organization, The cage would have a track around the outer edge of it and they could put a twinsize matress in the center in case a fighter gets tired during the match.
  6. ARVIN
    6. Posted by ARVIN Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    This just means we have to endure more fights with reality show guys fighting in them. UFC will give us 2 good fights per card and 5 crappy ones with their reality guys that they don't have to pay. It will soon start looking like a boxing undercard. Sign F. Shamrock, Cung Le, Nick Diaz, JZ Calvacante, Sakurai, Duane Ludwig, Alexander Emelianenko, Josh Barnett, and some other guys that put on exciting fights win lose or draw. Then stack your next 5 pay per views. Also make the Randy vs Fedor fight happen.
  7. George
    7. Posted by George Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:09 pm EDT

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    #9: None of those guys will ever sign (maybe 1 or 2 at the most) because other organizations are going deep into debt to overpay and get 1 star on their roster. The only guys who sign that are stars are those looking for competition. The UFC has to reach agreements with Showtime, HBO, or someone to help foot the bill for promoting events; that's why the UFC can't afford to pay the higher salaries.
  8. Patrón
    8. Posted by Patrón Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:01 pm EDT

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    A lot of these guys will help ramp up the other org's. UFC will definately regret a few of the cuts they make in the future.... competition breeds
  9. Dirty Sanchez
    9. Posted by Dirty Sanchez Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    9ers #13 At one point I think he was having Visa issues, don't know if that's still the case or not.
  10. Randall Flagg
    10. Posted by Randall Flagg Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:35 pm EDT

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    The guys who get cut are the UFCs "scrubs, who cares if they sign with ProElite or Strikeforce or whoever else.
    I agree that there are a lot of fighters that the UFC could cut and I'd never miss, but Sean Sherk is not one of them. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt on the steroid issue, and that guy can flat out fight. He went 5 rounds with Matt Hughes when Hughes was at his most dominant. He beat Kenny "I finish fights" Florian and was the 155 champ before getting stripped.
    #5 wrote about "great fighters" the UFC should bring back - he mentioned Vitor Belfort and Frank Shamrock, but Vitor has lost 5 of his last 10 and his last 4 wins are against mediocre competition at best. Shamrock hand picks his opponents and lost his last fight. Yeah I can see why you'd want those guys back.
  11. studbudgee
    11. Posted by studbudgee Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:45 pm EDT

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    lol @ anyone who lists Frank Shamrock as a great fighter.
  12. scott b
    12. Posted by scott b Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:10 pm EDT

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    I agree with cutting fighter who lose a few fights in a row, but I don’t agree with people being cut just because there fighting style is not exciting enough for some. As long as you get the win then it shouldn't make a difference not how you get the win. I hate fights like Starns last fight in Montreal he should be cut for sure.
  13. Chris A
    13. Posted by Chris A Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

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    The problem is the fighters show only the back of their head since they cant get hit their and they keep putting more rules in to make the fights slower ie the up kick is gone to the no hitting the back of the head is killing the fights fighters are just showing their back and protecting the neck just look at the mir lesnar fight mir knew he wouldnt get choked so covered his face
  14. rithiusx
    14. Posted by rithiusx Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:42 pm EDT

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    Vitor, frank, there all good fighters there just past there prime
  15. Alex S
    15. Posted by Alex S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:42 pm EDT

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    The UFC should also make a rules change to make the fights more exciting, allowing knees/kicks to a downed opponents head stops some of the guys from going for slow shot after slow shot knowing they cant get punished by a striker.
  16. Adam G
    16. Posted by Adam G Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

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    # 15 - This Bud's for you...
    I have to totally agree with # 13's assessment of who should next be on the UFC chopping block. I don't especially care how many wins of quality opponents that Sean Sherk has had. Sherk is beyond painful to watch. All the guy knows is wrestling and guess what, no body wants to plop now 44.95 down to watch amateur wrestling. I pray that Penn finishes him quickly to spare me and the rest of the MMA world a 25 minutes snoozefest (see Sherk vs Florian, Sherk vs Franka, Sherk vs Diaz.......). And let's not even go there on his amazing athleticism and strong work ethic(you hear me Joe Rogan). The guy is a JUICER. Peroid!
  17. full666jacket
    17. Posted by full666jacket Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    First and Foremost Frank Shamrock would beat 65% of the UFC roster PERIOD, no disscussion needed, just fact. Now WILL he thats the question. he has the tools, but his PRIDE is what may actually stop him. His fight with Cung Le proved that he could have beat Cung. (honestly if you watch the fight, Shamrock was playing with him the WHOLE time). But his PRIDE told him to keep it standing. BAD Idea. He did leave as the champ remember? Yes he is aged now, but I still feel he could beat Rich Franklin ( and I like Franklin no disrespect). The match up I would like to see would Be Frank vs Rich OR Shamrock vs Hendu. BUT as you know Frank and the UFC do not play nice together so I guess I just wasted my breath. Side note, I hope Bisping and Leban fight takes fight of the night honors as I think it is quite possible.
  18. Snipes
    18. Posted by Snipes Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:43 pm EDT

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    #13 - 9ers 4ever!!
    If you would have read the other MMA articles you'd have noticed that Charles McCarthy retired. That was announced a a day or two after the last UFC event. Guess he figured he should retire before he got cut to make it look like he was ready to stop fighting.
  19. hellbent_hellraiser
    19. Posted by hellbent_hellraiser Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:18 pm EDT

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    i say cut kendall grove he is the most over hyped no chin stiff on the roster
  20. hellbent_hellraiser
    20. Posted by hellbent_hellraiser Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:18 pm EDT

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    i say cut kendall grove he is the most over hyped no chin stiff on the roster
  21. sneyers11
    21. Posted by sneyers11 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:30 pm EDT

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    Starnes RAN for 3 rounds. He was so bad that his own countrymen booed him and cheered his opponent. Cut his @ss.
  22. shmookienuts
    22. Posted by shmookienuts Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:20 pm EDT

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    Its great that the ufc is cutting losers and bad fighters, hopefully it motivates others to fight harder more exiting fights. as for me i wana see silva fight St. pier
  23. RC
    23. Posted by RC Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

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    Lutter has the talent to go pretty far. Just not the will. Maybe if he gets his act together they'll bring him back.
  24. RC
    24. Posted by RC Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

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    lutter has the talent to go pretty far. just not the will. maybe if he gets his act together they'll bring him back.
  25. a_superstar_named_malik
    25. Posted by a_superstar_named_malik Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

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    Lutter sux,How do you not make weight in a fight of that magnetude?

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