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Spring Cleaning: Middleweight David Terrell released by the UFC

One-time UFC middleweight title contender David Terrell has been released by the UFC, according to GraceFighter.com.

Here's a snip:

"David Terrell has been officially released from his UFC contract...Plagued by injuries and unhappy with the financial terms of his bout agreements, Terrell sat out the remainder of his contract. Now focused on getting his career back on track, Terrell will be looking to signing and fighting with another organization."

Terrell burst onto the scene in his UFC debut in 2004, knocking out Matt Lindland just 24 seconds into their bout at UFC 49. The upset earned him a shot at the middleweight title, which was vacated by Murilo Bustamante.

He lost that championship bout to Evan Tanner via technical knockout at UFC 51 in 2005.

Terrell — a jiu-jitsu student of Cesar Gracie — would fight just one more time after the loss to Tanner, submitting Scott Smith with a rear naked choke at UFC 59 in 2006.

He was scheduled to fight Ed "Short Fuse" Herman at UFC 78 in November 2007, but had to pull out of that bout with torn tendons. It marked the fourth time in his UFC career that he had to withdraw from a fight.

Terrell was replaced by MMA veteran Joe Doerksen, who was knocked out by Herman in round three of their middleweight contest.

"The Soul Assassin" has some sick ground skills and obviously some power in his hands as evidenced with his destruction of one of the top middleweights in the world, Matt Lindland.

However, with Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin and all of the other superb fighters gunning for the 185-pound title, it seems like the opportunity for greatness may have already passed him by.

At just thirty years old, Terrell still has plenty of time (and plenty of organizations) to get himself back on the map. We wish him good luck - and good health - wherever his career ends up.

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A little off topic but all these guys that complain about the money their making, r they making any more with these other organizations than they would with the ufc? I bet no.

by jjsixxer on Feb 21, 2008 6:38 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Moving on…

by Andy on Feb 21, 2008 6:54 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

This guy needed to stay. The UFC need middleweights.

by JRV on Feb 21, 2008 6:54 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

This guy needed to stay. The UFC need middleweights.

What good has he been? He has pulled out of the last 3 fights that he signed on for (Okami 2 times, Herman). This guy is injury plagued and his contract was just dead weight. He needs to go and decide if he really wants to be a fighter.

by marcbjr2 on Feb 21, 2008 7:06 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

It’s hard to blame fighters if they’re legitimately hurt. This guy either has really bad luck or didn’t want to fight for peanuts.

Make no mistake though, this is another loss for the UFC from a talent perspective. Granted, he hasn’t done anything lately, but he’s only 30 and the MW division isn’t exactly deep.

by TonyDrip on Feb 21, 2008 7:18 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Yawn… oh and before I forget, who cares?

by the_mexicutioner on Feb 21, 2008 7:24 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

before it starts let’s not jump on the whole “there goes the UFC running out all there fighters talk” The guy had potential didn’t live up to it and wanted out. It happens.

by J on Feb 21, 2008 7:30 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Damn bro, aren’t you concerned about all the talent leaving the UFC? I get that he hasn’t fought lately, but it’s still another brand name (KO’d Lindland in less than a minute!) gone.

by TonyDrip on Feb 21, 2008 7:32 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

about time

by teddy on Feb 21, 2008 7:43 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Thank God. I can’t stand when you get all hyped up for a good fight and an injury happens, I know it happens, but 3-4 times in a row, get rid of him. There are plenty of other fighters who can fill his spot. Guys in other sports would be released after a year of being injured it only makes sense.

by GodDamnMike on Feb 21, 2008 7:50 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Terrell will go fight Scott Smith and lose probably then Dana White will be all “I KNEW HE WAS CRAP.”

And he will end his life as a motivational speaker for injured athletes.

by DirtyML on Feb 21, 2008 7:58 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

It’s important to note that he beat scott smith because the ref made a mistake. He told the fighters to break. Smith did but terrell did not. For some unkown reason the ref let the two continue with terrell on smiths back. 20 sec later he chocked out smith.

by dana's cheap on Feb 21, 2008 8:01 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

It’s important to note that he beat scott smith because the ref made a mistake. He told the fighters to break. Smith did but terrell did not. For some unkown reason the ref let the two continue with terrell on smiths back. 20 sec later he chocked out smith.

let me guess, Mazagatti was the ref for that one too?

by kitsunex on Feb 21, 2008 8:17 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

i dont blame the ufc for cutting this guy but on a different topic dana may be a terrific visionary and business man but he has a problem when he is loosing so many fighters i think keep the big names for ppv and start getting the young talent pool fighting on hbo spike other sports networks on a regular basis. ufc may be the big dog now but without a minor league to replenish your talent pool and stars to sell tickets and it wont be the big dog for long. they bought pride and left the market open for someone to fill run a ufc japan or ufc europe maybe even franchise the market and have european champs move the stars around the world then it will be bigger than boxing…out

by wayne on Feb 21, 2008 9:16 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

He isn’t the only one ! If you look at the UFC official website and go through each division, it certainly seems that they cut numerous heavyweights, a couple of light heavyweights, and middleweights alike. Perhaps this is simply a transition phase but if you ask me fighters realize that REAL money can be made in other organizations as mediocre as they may be.

I sincerely hope Dana White is planning on re-stocking his fighters with the likes of TUF nobodies.

by Kevin Kelly on Feb 21, 2008 9:22 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

^^ yeah

“I sincerely hope Dana White is planning on re-stocking his fighters with the likes of TUF nobodies.”

Okay, The nobodies include – Josh Neer, Shane Carwin, Rousimar Palhares, Chris Wilson, Ricardo Almeida, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Dong Yun Kim, David Bjelkeden ect… get the point – a bunch of nobodies…..

by Andrej on Feb 21, 2008 9:34 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Kevin Kelly You are a funny person? right

by Andrej on Feb 21, 2008 9:35 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

let me guess, Mazagatti was the ref for that one too?

I’m not sure but it was one of the biggest screwups I’ve seen.

by dana's cheap on Feb 21, 2008 9:41 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

let me guess, Mazagatti was the ref for that one too?

The referee was Marco Lopez. Not surprisingly, he’s no longer with the UFC.

by GregC on Feb 21, 2008 10:11 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

who cares

by RiverHorror on Feb 22, 2008 12:52 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

^^ yeah

“I sincerely hope Dana White is planning on re-stocking his fighters with the likes of TUF nobodies.”

Okay, The nobodies include – Josh Neer, Shane Carwin, Rousimar Palhares, Chris Wilson, Ricardo Almeida, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Dong Yun Kim, David Bjelkeden ect…

get the point – a bunch of nobodies…..

exactly why pay those bums…people should quit bashing dana if it wasnt for dana ufc wouldnt have 80 to 90percent of the fans they have…the only big loss has been randy and that piece of crap turned his back on the people that maDE him i hope he breaks his neck

by chuckisover-rated on Feb 22, 2008 1:44 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

the guy clearly isnt built for fighting

by Insain on Feb 22, 2008 6:01 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

let me guess, Mazagatti was the ref for that one too?


LOL. You should start a Mazagatti fan club!

by chefdaddy on Feb 22, 2008 7:38 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Terrell was a very talented fighter but he is no good if he cant fight. I know he was injured but he did pull out of 3 fights which isnt good. when a fighter pulls out, they usually replace him with a lessor skilled fighter, which lowers the quality of matches.

I dont have a problem with him being cut. If he can prove to actually be healthy enough to fight 1 or 2 times in other organizatiopns, then maybe they will bring him back.

Either way, as someone mentioned before, he has a home waiting for him at elitexc where his training partners Nick Diaz and Jake Sheilds compete.

by john on Feb 22, 2008 8:06 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

The referee was Marco Lopez. Not surprisingly, he’s no longer with the UFC.

UFC doesn’t hire/fire refs by the way.

by kory klinger on Feb 22, 2008 8:38 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

I wonder why Ceaser camp: Diaz brothers, Shields, or Melendez never give a shout out to Terrell(or maybe I missed it). They always talk about who they train with in the interviews or after the fight. Why is he always injurred? What kind of crazy training is he doing?

by kama kaze on Feb 22, 2008 9:19 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Good riddance. He is probably the most fragile fighter to ever fight in the UFC.

Quick Question: Who holds the record for pulling out of the most UFC fights?

by ViolentMike on Feb 22, 2008 10:21 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Fighters fight injured all of the time. If you are a fighter, you are never 100% healthy. He probably pulled out of his last fight due to a stubbed toe that he incurred 4 weeks before the figth, and before that he woke up and sneezed three times so he pulled out of the fight as well. This ends up leaving the UFC in a position to either have one less fight on the card, or have a last minute replacement who is never a big name. If his fight was scheduled to be televised, the replacement fighter would make the fight drop to the undercard and the quality of the event is lowered signifigantly. I was really looking forward to David Terrell vs Ed Herman. That would have been a good fight.

by ViolentMike on Feb 22, 2008 10:24 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Fighters fight injured all of the time. If you are a fighter, you are never 100% healthy. He probably pulled out of his last fight due to a stubbed toe that he incurred 4 weeks before the figth, and before that he woke up and sneezed three times so he pulled out of the fight as well. This ends up leaving the UFC in a position to either have one less fight on the card, or have a last minute replacement who is never a big name. If his fight was scheduled to be televised, the replacement fighter would make the fight drop to the undercard and the quality of the event is lowered signifigantly. I was really looking forward to David Terrell vs Ed Herman. That would have been a good fight.

lol@stubbed toe.. ay thats true about the 100% healthy part. 4 times is too much. Maybe he’s lacking heart or taking beatings from Melendez.

by kama kaze on Feb 22, 2008 10:47 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

i dont blame the ufc for cutting this guy but on a different topic dana may be a terrific visionary and business man but he has a problem when he is loosing so many fighters i think keep the big names for ppv and start getting the young talent pool fighting on hbo spike other sports networks on a regular basis. ufc may be the big dog now but without a minor league to replenish your talent pool and stars to sell tickets and it wont be the big dog for long. they bought pride and left the market open for someone to fill run a ufc japan or ufc europe maybe even franchise the market and have european champs move the stars around the world then it will be bigger than boxing…out

I’d have to agree. To many times this guy has pulled out of fights and just like anywhere else…you get let go if you don’t do your job. As far as the young talent pool…it’s in the WEC. I just don’t understand why they (UFC brass) won’t bring any of these guys up. They have some primetime talent there. I just don’t see the conflict of interest. Put the TUF guys in WEC and move some WEC seasoned talent into the UFC. It would be the begining of a strong talent pool.

by Drew on Feb 22, 2008 12:26 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

It would also strengthen the ZUFFA (UFC/WEC) fanbase.

by Drew on Feb 22, 2008 12:27 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I’d have to agree. To many times this guy has pulled out of fights and just like anywhere else…you get let go if you don’t do your job. As far as the young talent pool…it’s in the WEC. I just don’t understand why they (UFC brass) won’t bring any of these guys up. They have some primetime talent there. I just don’t see the conflict of interest. Put the TUF guys in WEC and move some WEC seasoned talent into the UFC. It would be the begining of a strong talent pool.

I don’t want the UFC to start bringing in the young guns of the WEC into the UFC before they are ready. Because losing your first two fight in the UFC can be devastating to one’s career. However, if they waited it out in the WEC a little longer to gain that ever so valuable experience, they will be better prepared for the step up in competition that the UFC offers.

Looking at the divisions and champs:

LHW – not a single LHW WEC fighter can have any sort of success in the UFC at this time. Doug Marshall and Brian Stann are their two top guys right now and they are no where near being well rounded yet.

MW – Paulo Filho was though to be a Top 3 MW in the world, but after his performance against Chael Sonnen, he has many doubters. But still, Paulo is UFC worthy at this point in time. Chael had a 1-2 record in the UFC between UFC 55-60. He has shown great improvements since then, and the MW division is so weak right now, but Chael would get anywhere the top of the UFC MW division.

WW – Carlos Condit period. However, I think that he should still wait at least a year to a year and a half before coming to the UFC. After that, he can be a contender within 2 years.

LW – The UFC LW division is stacked. Varner couldn’t make it in the UFC LW division and he is now champ in the WEC.

by ViolentMike on Feb 22, 2008 1:32 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

how many assassins are there now? three?

by Sephora MMA fans on Feb 22, 2008 3:14 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

LOL. You should start a Mazagatti fan club!

I will take Mazzagatti anyday over Yves Lavigne. Yves stands them up WAY too fast..

by Sephora MMA fans on Feb 22, 2008 3:16 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

At just thirty years old, Terrell still has plenty of time (and plenty of organizations) to get himself back on the map. We wish him good luck – and good health – wherever his career ends up.

Now with Tanner back, it would’ve been nice to watch a rematch. It would’ve been a “gimme” for Tanner; but it could’ve saved Dave’s job w/ the org.

by The 518 Playa on Feb 22, 2008 4:07 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I don’t want the UFC to start bringing in the young guns of the WEC into the UFC before they are ready.

Dan Lauzon was a perfect example of that. To top it off, they pit him against “King” Fisher. I do believe Dan was a late replacement though. Still…

by The 518 Playa on Feb 22, 2008 4:11 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

A little off topic but all these guys that complain about the money their making, r they making any more with these other organizations than they would with the ufc? I bet no.

Kimbo Slice and Tank Abbott both made over $100,000 for their elitexc fight. That’s great considering they are both low tier fighters. That’s more than Arlovski, Vera, or machida ever make in the UFC and a lot of people argue that they are title contenders. Why not fight in Elitexc and fight easier opposition to make more money.

by JamesS on Feb 22, 2008 6:34 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Half-Glass, Half-sissy..good riddance.

by Vale Nada on Feb 22, 2008 7:03 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

As far as the young talent pool…it’s in the WEC. I just don’t understand why they (UFC brass) won’t bring any of these guys up. They have some primetime talent there. I just don’t see the conflict of interest. Put the TUF guys in WEC and move some WEC seasoned talent into the UFC. It would be the begining of a strong talent pool.

I’ve heard somewhere that the Zuffa intention is to eventually build up the WEC as a sort of form of competition for the UFC. You know, eventually have WEC champs vs UFC champs for superbouts. Before that can happen, the talent in the WEC as well as the respect factor in the eyes of the fans needs to be met. A cool idea but a long time in the future. Therefore, siphoning off top WEC talent would be a step back for Zuffa brass.

by JB on Feb 23, 2008 12:58 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Im surprised UFC didn’t get rid of this guy earlier, no doubt from what weve seen he is a good fighter, but 6 fights in 9 years is terrible. Injury Prone or just a wuss, the ufc carried him for too long. Maybe he can mount a comeback but i doubt it he’ll probably get injured again lol.

by Macho Bullshit on Feb 23, 2008 9:55 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

I really believe the ufc really needs to review each weight class and keep the fighter that made noise! I enjoyed watching terrell fight. With the loss of randy, soon to be tito, cro cop, babalu, soon to be arlovski, i know that fighters now are being a dime a dozen however if ther ufc claims “to have the best fighters” then they really need to evalute who they eliminate.

by steve-o on Feb 23, 2008 1:58 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

^^ yeah

“I sincerely hope Dana White is planning on re-stocking his fighters with the likes of TUF nobodies.”

Okay, The nobodies include – Josh Neer, Shane Carwin, Rousimar Palhares, Chris Wilson, Ricardo Almeida, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Dong Yun Kim, David Bjelkeden ect…

get the point – a bunch of nobodies…..

exactly why pay those bums…people should quit bashing dana if it wasnt for dana ufc wouldnt have 80 to 90percent of the fans they have…the only big loss has been randy and that piece of crap turned his back on the people that maDE him i hope he breaks his neck[/quote
THANK YOU! Don’t believe the hype Captain Quit.

by Nine Duce on Feb 25, 2008 10:03 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I don’t want the UFC to start bringing in the young guns of the WEC into the UFC before they are ready. Because losing your first two fight in the UFC can be devastating to one’s career. However, if they waited it out in the WEC a little longer to gain that ever so valuable experience, they will be better prepared for the step up in competition that the UFC offers.

Looking at the divisions and champs:

LHW – not a single LHW WEC fighter can have any sort of success in the UFC at this time. Doug Marshall and Brian Stann are their two top guys right now and they are no where near being well rounded yet.

MW – Paulo Filho was though to be a Top 3 MW in the world, but after his performance against Chael Sonnen, he has many doubters. But still, Paulo is UFC worthy at this point in time. Chael had a 1-2 record in the UFC between UFC 55-60. He has shown great improvements since then, and the MW division is so weak right now, but Chael would get anywhere the top of the UFC MW division.

WW – Carlos Condit period. However, I think that he should still wait at least a year to a year and a half before coming to the UFC. After that, he can be a contender within 2 years.

LW – The UFC LW division is stacked. Varner couldn’t make it in the UFC LW division and he is now champ in the WEC.

LHW,WW and LW-I have to aggree with you that these divisions are way too stacked right now but I don’t think there’s any competition for Condit right now so he’s going to have to move up soon even though he’ll be at the back of the line for top contenders. He doesn’t want to Fedorize his career by dominating a bunch of no names sprinkled with some decision wins over a few top fighters.

MW-Paulo Filho is ready. He didn’t look good his last time out but even the best have their days. He said he is hesitant because he is good friends with Anderson Silva and doesn’t want to fight him. The MW division needs a guy like Filho right now.

by Nine Duce on Feb 25, 2008 10:56 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

He had trouble making weight, that’s why he pulled out so many times

by Ryan on May 17, 2008 1:36 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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