Sooner or Later They Gonna Cut You Down
Posted on November 24, 2010, 08:16 AM by Anton GurevichI have to admit that Gerald Harris's release from the UFC caught me off guard. "The Hurricane" was one of the most promising Middleweights, TKO'ing his way to the main card of UFC 123 in Detroit, Michigan. In fact, Harris got two Knockout of the Night bonuses from the UFC, one of them for viciously slamming Dave Branch at UFC 116.
Obviously, he's a not a grinder who uses so-called "lay and pray" techniques to squeeze out a decision. I'm not trying to make excuses for Harris, but it looks like his performance against Falcao was more of a gameplan mistake. Also, it was Gerald Harris's PPV and Main Card debut, so we can add a psychological pressure for this equation. It takes two for tango. Maiquel Falcao can be easily blamed for the horrendous third round, just like Gerald Harris. It's the same thing that went in Frank Mir's fight against Mirko Cro Cop. Yes, it was bad, but Frank Mir was not the only man inside the Octagon that night. He did what was expected from him - and knocked out Mirko Cro Cop. Even the fact that it was the only KO at UFC 119 didn't earn Frank Mir a bonus.
I'll quote Marloes Coenen on what she said about Gegard Mousasi's defeat against King Mo (LowKick.com Exclusive Interview): "I know he lost to King Mo (who is an incredible fighter). But I have info that not everybody knows and therefore I consider Gegard the best in the world". It's just a small example for a very simple fact; We don't know about everything what's going on in the camp, private life and mind of a fighter in prior to the fight.
Everyone has bad performances in his career. From Fedor Emelianenko to Gerald Harris. That's why Harris's cut from he UFC is nothing but ridiculous. Perhaps, there's more of a story on this one, but again I'll say, releasing a fighter like Gerald Harris after one bad performance is a pure absurd.
There's obviously a problem in MMA with lackluster fights. But it's a sport, and as long as a fighter is not cheating his way to victory - everything is okay in my book. If it's according the rules, don't blame the fighter, blame the rules. More than this, in some cases the fear from getting cut may be one of the things that drive fighters to play it safe. You don't treat a headache by simply cutting off the head.
Gerald Harris joins Patrick Cote (4-7 in the UFC), Seth Petruzelli (0-4), Efrain Escudero (3-2), Todd Duffee (1-1) and Goran Reljic (1-3) in an ongoing list of fighters cut by the UFC this year.
I would suggest listening to our interview with MMAFA's Rob Maysey, who has very interesting opinions on some of the UFC's policies. The decision to cut Gerald Harris is just one of these times when we wished there was a strong MMA Fighters Association.
Update:
Dana White talks about the issue to MMA Fighting:
"It’s a dog-eat-dog world, there’s so many good guys out there, you’re literally fighting for your UFC life every time you fight."
"It’s no different than any other professional sports organization, it’s exactly the way it works. You want to stay at the top of the food chain, you deal with it. If you don’t, you won’t. You know how many guys get cut by the NFL and Major League Baseball every day? It’s crazy, staggering. Same thing here, no difference."
"This isn’t the f*cking Ultimate Staring Competition, it’s the Ultimate Fighting Championship."
"Listen, these are the big leagues, no different than Major League Baseball, no different than the NFL, you perform or you go away."
Comments
couldnt agree more. such a stupid decision to drop harris
Ya i no, MW division is probably the weakest when it comes to upcoming prospects, and Harris was one of these prospects dropping him was a big mistake
I can see why all but Duffee and Harris got cut...
Why is everyone assuming he was cut for one bad performance, I highly doubt that the UFC is that stupid to let someone as promising as Harris go for one bad performance. It is most likely a personal issue between Harris, and the UFC that they felt wasnt worth dealing with to keep this prospect around
DANA dude seriously chill tfo.
yea of course it is. the ufc might cut a person if its their first fight or someone like karo who hasnt fought in a while.. but not someone in a situation like harris. this was definitely personal. for duffee, dana said he was acting like an asshole and until he cleaned up his attitude, he wont be back in the ufc. now efrain is a perfect example of someone getting cut from bad performances...
He was also cut due to bad attitude. Not making weight in his last fight, not really caring about fighting. Not taking it seriously really.
Dana is trying to make a statement but really he's just being a **** to a person that doesn't deserve it at all. Gerald had a very promising future and just a bad night is all
"Had" a promising future? No, "has" a promising future. That's the whole point. He'll be back... and with a vengence. This was a smart decision on Dana's part for the UFC and for Harris as a professional mma fighter. He, and many others through him, learned a valuable lesson and we're all going to benefit.
He just has to prove himself in the lower leagues again. His third round performance was so bad, he deserves it. I've never seen anything like that before, and I bet Dana and Joe Silva haven't either (in the UFC, at least in recent memory).
Listen, I know that isn't popular... but think for asec. People don't pay good money to see people stare at each other. These are tough times economically, and the UFC is just now starting to break into mainstream. Every second of every fight counts as they try to win fans. Even lay and pray is more exciting than what Harris did... a wrestling match is at least more fun to watch than a ****ing staring contest!
And it was *his* responsibility to go after the fight since he was losing. This was a good business decision by Dana in order to make a statement. I know that isn't popular, but good business makes good fights... and that is what we all want to see.
Harris will be back, and with a vengence, and that is what we all want to see.
Harris did go after Falcao. Falcao done a silva and back peddled for 5 minutes. What is someone supposed to do when their opponent refuses to engage?
nice post
That's what the cage is for. No one in a cage can "refuse to engage" if the other guy comes at him persistently. When Falcao would back up, Harris would just stop going forward, and then back himself up to get the fight back in the center. He should've pursued falcao. That's my point. He was losing... it was his fight to go get and win. Instead, he presented the most boring round anyone has ever seen in a long, long time in professional MMA.
this fighters are working there ass off just to pay the bill and have some decent living for their an in an instant. they lose their job i hate sports that is surrounded by politics and i can sense that now. I hope someday we will have another competitive organization so that they should think twice of letting go fighters or the least now is to have a fighters organization.
If they cut Harris after just one bad performance, then I think the UFC or Dana should be consistent by cutting some their lay and prayers as well.
He was 3-1 and got knockout of the Night bonuses in two of his four fights with the UFC. What does Dana want?
I hope Maynard gets cut after his loss to Edgar then !
Shields can go tomorrow as far as i'm concerned.
Dana White once said that he is trying to grow the UFC and put more fights on a year, but also that he needed more "guys" for more fights and events to this and thats why he deceided to merge the UFC and WEC so he would have more weight devisions and fighters which would seem to solve his problem of needing more "guys" for more events, but YET he insists on cutting many talented fighters from the promotion for various reasons both personal and professional which is extremly counter productive and almost pointless as much potential talent is being lost. However i do whole heartedly agree with his decision to cut Paul Daley which was completly understandable given the circumstances for it.
Dana needs to have a televised MMA fight with himself as an opponent. Maybe he would have a new found respect for the fights he so-called promotes or rapes if you will. Cant wait until a fighter who feels hes lost everything kicks Dana ass severely in public and isnt scared of lawyers.
Was just thinking the same thing. It WILL happen one day if Dana doesn't chill. Hitler had several assasination attempts against him right?
This is super absurd. Harris is an exciting fighter and the way he dominates outside of the major leagues makes him one of the best MW's in the game. He came in with an interesting back story regarding how he got into the UFC and fought like he appreciated every opportunity extended to him. Yes, of course UFC 123 was the one exception to those performances. However, had it not been for the clock error, the second and third rounds would have never occurred and it would have simply been a first round submission, his first loss in quite a while. On top of all else, Harris has a great attitude and understands the need to put on a show, something lost upon so many others.
wow. i never thought they would cut him. its not that harris is bad. maiquel falcao just too good, although relatively unknown..
this reminds me of when phil davis debuted against stann. davis made him look really bad and he was only 4-0. they cut him some slack but not harris. big mistake from the ufc cutting him
I don't want to rush to any conclusions on why they cut him, but I can only assume it was solely based on his performance at UFC 123, because after the fight he said he felt fortunate that his UFC career is not in danger yet and he can get another chance to prove himself, so i doubt there was an internal problem we don't know about. If this is the case then there is a huge problem with the UFC and how they handle they're employees, unless he can make it back into the UFC after one win or somthing.
Has anyone ever gave advice to someone they don't know about a relationship they don't know anything about?
- Sure it happens, but would you take advice from someone on your relationship who doesn't know enough to comment?
The decision which has been made to drop Gerald is the tip of the iceberg. There is too much unseen to make an accurate assessment.
- Were judgement passed on what was shown in this particular fight, then it may be said that Miquael and his team out-thought and out-fought Gerald and his team.
- The first two rounds were won by Miquael, in the last round his corner told him to wait for the mistake.
Why?
Because both corners knew that Gerald would have to come out for the knockout to win the fight.
- Tactically, it made no sense to go for a knockout against a fighter who must knock you out. Miquael was prepared to play a counter offensive role - but the counter never came.
- Gerald never took the decision to go for the knock out in round 3 despite the encouragement and pleas from his corner.
- If you believe that the corner is there to provide a fighter with appropriate tactical advice and input then thenyou may also agree that Miquael played to the game plan and followed his corner= Good choice
- Gerald was incapabe of backing up his words physically and tactically on the night. He didn't deliver on his promise because he couldn't on the night.
I look forward to your response,
Odesa
you dont get a trophy for tip toeing around here, most speak their mind on whats given and presented, if its incorrect it will work itself out in time and others are free to change their opinions.
Why did you even reply to this comment if all you can conjure is nothing of any substantial relevance? odesa brought up valid points in his assessment! and all you could muster was to be derogative on his approach.....
as long as you feel better now, Im happy
He was saying people shouldnt comment if they dont know the whole story basically, I stated we give opinions on what is presented.
Its my opinion, live with it or dont I could careless if he hurts your man crush for Dana.
thats as clear as I can make it for you 2 douchebags
Hi Nunchaku,
Thanks for your support.
UrHype shows quite clearly that he struggles to find a position in order to make a point.
He is obviously doing his best to contribute and I suspect it hurts to have his comments labelled weak etc.
Best wishes
Odesa.
odesa.....yes! my sentiments exactly.... good day to you.....
the boob pair agree ....nice
Don't count your chickens 'til they hatch, guys.
I think we're all jumping the gun, here.
Round 3.. not that is will happen... but.. if the UFC would adopt the yellow card like Pride had... and take away 10% of the fighters purse for not fighting.... maybe all the ducking and dodging that is going on would come to an end.
Dana is making Scot Coker's life easier, with each decision he makes.
Where do you think a great fighters like Harris would go now after being cut from the UFC...that's right Strikeforce.
Somewhere behind a computer monitor is Scot Coker with a huge smile on his face...keep it up Dana you are digging your own grave.
Agree 100% but I have a queston: does White make the decision? I thought one of the Fertittas did that with input from DW only. Could be wrong. Easy to blame an ASS like White and he certainly acts like the head cheese but should go only where due.
lets all write angry emails to dana! WITH CAPS
FFOOOORRRKKK YYYOOOOOUUU DANA WHITE :D
If Harris wins a couple more fights he should have nothing to worry about
im in a constant battle with how much respect i have for DW and today's another one of those days i lost some
I dont think i have any left
Hes 3-1 UFC, why cut him now? As a fighter you have good and bad performances like what you said Anton. Dana could of atleast gave, him another chance. What a douche
I remember when you first got here Nik, you have grown huge amounts in your knowledge of MMA....respect bro
I wasn't that smart when it came to mma and i wasn't a fan for that long when i became a member of this sight when i made my Salsa Samurai account.
After a year and 3 LK accounts later i learned a lot about a bunch of stuff about MMA
Is that when fighter have to win or get cut. Certian boring tactics that get wins become more appealing. This fight was the perfect example;
Falcao was winning the fight after the first two rounds so he decided not to take any risks for round 3. It was the smart move as this was his foot in the door fight and a lose apprently would have ment hes not coming back.
Then again Harris wasnt fighting like his career was on the line so you could argue it both ways.