Aug 13 2009
Thales Leites goes bye bye (as does Tamdan McCrory)
UFC has come to terms with the release of former UFC Middleweight contender Thales Leites earlier today. I can honestly say I am not in the least bit surprised.
(GG’s note: I’m a bit surprised because White was asked this in the press conference and he said that they weren’t cutting him.)
A lot of people were too quick to blame Anderson Silva for making his battle with Thales Leites at UFC 97 a fight that almost ruined the PPV. Leites’ came under fire for having a way too defensive strategy (and after watching UFC 101, can you blame him?) against Silva shortly after his defeat.
I haven’t watched it yet but I was told his pre-lim defeat to Alessio Sakara UFC 101 was the most boring fight of the year, even more than the Silva borefest. It’s strange because some feel Sakara didn’t deserve that win. Either way, the UFC does not like boring fights and neither do the spectators.
Good riddens.
The original Leites story can be found here.
In addition to that, Tamdan McCrory, another guy who fought and lost on the UFC 101 pre-lims, was released by the company last night. Booker Joe Silva let McCrory’s people know of the decision. McCrory is a charismatic fighter, but with a 3-3 record, he probably does not matter.
The original McCrory story can be found here.
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Has to be frustrating for Leites to go from contender to out of the UFC all together. No shock though like you said.
Kid has never knocked someone out in the UFC and was strictly a submission guy. Once other fighters knew the score, they basically stayed away from the ground.
[...] D wrote the other day that Thales Leites and Tamdan McCrory were going to be cut. Dana White specifically said during the [...]