Paulo Filho likely released from WEC contract and will not fight in UFC ... for now

by James Iannotti on Nov 18, 2008 2:18 PM EST

What a difference three weeks and one head-scratching performance makes.

Paulo Filho -- the last man to hold the WEC middleweight title (albeit under bizarre circumstances) -- has apparently been cut by Zuffa following his unanimous decision loss to Chael Sonnen last month and will not join the the UFC roster once the promotion dissolves its 185-pound category, according to WrestlingObserver.com via FiveOuncesOfPain.com.

Filho signed with the WEC last year with an undefeated record (14-0) and a reputation as one of the top 185 pounders in the world. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist was brought in to bolster the credibility of the division and help the organization grow.

Therefore, it came as no surprise that he was granted an immediate opportunity to challenge Joe Doerksen for the vacant division title in just his first fight with the promotion. Filho made a statement out of Doerksen with a first round technical knockout, sending notice to all other WEC middleweights that this division was now his.

The promotion wasted no time in getting its champion back into action with his first title defense against Sonnen at WEC 31 just four months later. Filho was a huge favorite to win the bout and nobody gave the challenger much of a chance to win.

However, Sonnen came to fight that night. He dictated the pace and controlled where the action went with his wrestling base and reach advantage. He was clearly ahead on the scorecards before the champ slipped in a fight-ending armbar late in the second round to retain his title.

Most people chalked up the poor performance by Filho to a simple case of him just having a bad night, but behind the scenes there was a lot more going on.

It was revealed shortly thereafter that Filho was in the midst of a long-term battle with depression and substance abuse. Accordingly, he clearly was not devoting himself completely to fighting and for the first time it showed up in his performance.

A rematch with Sonnen was postponed for almost a year while the promotion allowed Filho time to recover from his illnesses and return to form as one of the best in the world. Many people believed he had done just that during his time away from competing and that it would show during the fight at WEC 36.

Clearly that wasn't the case.

He came into the weigh-ins for the bout at a staggering seven pounds over the 185 pound division limit. It was obvious then -- and even more so throughout the fight -- that he was still dealing with a lot of personal demons that were preventing him from competing at the level we all knew he capable of competing at.

Filho holds career wins over Kazuo Misaki, Ninja Rua, Ryo Chonon, Yuki Kondo and plenty of other world class caliber fighters. The talent and skill set is there, but for the time being he clearly has a few screws that need some tightening.

This move by Zuffa comes as no surprise.

Two years ago Filho could have easily made the move to the UFC and been more than competitive, but as of right now, he's just not ready.

This is an important time in his life, not only as a fighter, but as a human being. Hopefully he can get the professional help he needs to get his life in order. nd then maybe we as fans will get the opportunity to see this talented fighter back in action at 100 percent ... maybe even in the UFC.

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Comments

whats next for filho?
ufc of coarse but WHEN???

by mikeybear on Nov 18, 2008 2:21 PM EST reply actions

I doubt he’ll ever be the same, I don’t expect to see Fihlo back and if we do then I bet he’s no longer fighting at the same level he used to.

by O damn he got caught on Nov 18, 2008 2:24 PM EST up reply actions

agreed

by john on Nov 18, 2008 2:36 PM EST up reply actions

If he can’t balance fighting with taking care of himself then I hope he quits fighting completely. What we saw in his last fight was just sad, and I hope that he can get the help he needs. I think this is a great move by Zuffa to release him so he can focus on his personal life and not his fighting career.

by GregC on Nov 18, 2008 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

The 1st thing Filho should do on the road to recover is get rid of that Mike Tyson Tat’ he has, seriously, he can’t have that guy as his idol or role model even if they both suffer from the same problems.

by THORAZINE on Nov 18, 2008 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THE WEC, I just made a loooong post in the WEC fight card finalized thread regarding each of the fights. Check it out and comment if you please!

First time at the site since Brock became champ…

by ViolentMike on Nov 18, 2008 4:52 PM EST up reply actions

you know what I don’t get, people reporting that Fihlo has been released from his WEC contract! The WEC did away with the MW division, so of course his WEC contract is done!

by kevin on Nov 18, 2008 4:58 PM EST up reply actions

Professionally, he needs to lay off the hohos and move to 170.

Personally, he needs something, but I am not a trained psychotherapist.

by SaVaGe on Nov 18, 2008 2:26 PM EST reply actions

Are you kidding, he was cutting like 30lbs to make MW as it was and his camp had decided after the sonnen fiasco that he would just fight at LHW.

by NameNotRequired on Nov 18, 2008 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

i dont think he has the disapline to make 170 but it is a better idea than moving to 205 where he will get killed he is short for m.w. at 205 he will be outmatched by alot of people

by roy on Nov 18, 2008 3:07 PM EST up reply actions

No I’m not kidding. I know what his camp said. It makes sense for them since they have a fat fighter that won’t workout and admittedly hates diet and cutting weight. If Sonnen can pick him apart, what do you think is going to happen at 205? More of the same. He is too short for 205.
Be real. He could tone down and make weight at WW. lose the fudge, lose the pudge.

by SaVaGe on Nov 18, 2008 7:29 PM EST up reply actions

I’ve got no interest in Filho after his last performance. All the hype for so long, and dude never fights anyone, and when he finally gets in the cage he looks like a chump.

by LJ on Nov 18, 2008 2:29 PM EST reply actions

how do you bash someone for having personal issues? I agree that he shouldn’t be in the UFC right now because he’s obviously going through some issues that are affecting his game, but that does not erase the fighter he used to be and for sure does not make him a chump.

by compadre on Nov 18, 2008 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

a fighters job is to fight, if he cant because of “personal issues” he shouldnt be fighting. he was never all that to begin with, he just showed potential that he could be. thats now gone and he is, now, a chump

by josh on Nov 18, 2008 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

Cuz this is an MMA blog, not Dr. Phil.

by LJ on Nov 18, 2008 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

well, i say give him a chance in the ufc once he gets cleaned up.

by allamerican on Nov 18, 2008 2:30 PM EST reply actions

i agree with giving him a chance. but i also have little interest in him after his last fight. he clearly didnt care about the sport or the promotion anymore.

by masters on Nov 18, 2008 2:35 PM EST reply actions

No way. How can you take a chance on a guy who only beat Joe Deorkson. Come on he was beat in his first fight against Sonnen and then lost the 2nd fight. You can not give him all the credit of 2nd best in the world, he is not top 20. Demien Maia would destroy him. They already have guys in 185. Make him prove he can make weight and be mentally right before any chances. He needs to fight for Affliction, Strikeforce or someone else long before he comes to the UFC. He will probably fight someone like Joe Riggs at the playboy mansion next!

by GOAT on Nov 18, 2008 2:37 PM EST reply actions

Celebrity rehab He can sit next to Gary Busey.

by DBG on Nov 18, 2008 2:37 PM EST reply actions

Nah Busey’s doing the counseling now.

by O damn he got caught on Nov 18, 2008 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

What- thats enough to make anyone need Rehab again, Thats not gonna work!

by DBG on Nov 18, 2008 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

maybe hell see robert downey jr. in there for the 7th time

by brendan on Nov 18, 2008 9:13 PM EST up reply actions

if paulo came to UFC if he does. i would love to see him against Maia or Palharez…. plus i think palherz vs mai would be a excellent fight at 185 any thoughts??

by ricky on Nov 18, 2008 2:40 PM EST reply actions

this is a good thing. thing about paulo is that he doesnt need to be fighting, he needs to be in re-hab and getting psych help. it seems like the pressure of being an mma fighter might be what is causing him so many problems. he doesnt have to be a fighter to live a good productive life. i think what bothered alot of people about paulo is what he said before the sonnen fight after missing weight. still talking trash after you fcked up is not smart.

by b.w. on Nov 18, 2008 2:42 PM EST reply actions

its hard to believe how far filho has fallen. he needs to get his head straight if he wants to keep fighting because he’ll never be in the ufc the way he is going now. coming in so over weight the way he did cost him alot of respect.

by djhbv23 on Nov 18, 2008 3:09 PM EST reply actions

WOW…Even though Anderson Silva said he would not fight Paulo Filho it would be a good fight and given the performances in each of their last respective bouts, the both of them would make for “Dancing with the Ultimate Fighting Stars”. They both would circle around the octagon and not hit each, maybe a break dance contest would suit the both of them instead.

by holmz76 on Nov 18, 2008 3:33 PM EST reply actions

Nah, A. Silva owns him in dancing, that guy has some moves..

by O damn he got caught on Nov 18, 2008 4:35 PM EST up reply actions

which gives me a great idea…

Anderson Silva vs Michael Jackson

UFC 98: LORDS OF THE DANCE

by O damn he got caught on Nov 18, 2008 4:36 PM EST up reply actions

i think the best way for filho to impact the sport is to be a coach or a teacher much like anderson wants to do when his fights are up.

by swizz on Nov 18, 2008 3:40 PM EST reply actions

oh that sounds like a great idea. I would definitely sign up to be instructed or coached by a man with drug and mental problems.

by jj on Nov 18, 2008 5:11 PM EST up reply actions

Adios muchacho!

by ( (AdamG ) ) on Nov 18, 2008 4:05 PM EST reply actions

He needs to get his life in order and then he can fight for the UFC. I expect him to take some time off and return to a smaller promotion for a fight or two and eventually come to the UFC. Of course there is also the prospect that he doesn’t get better at all and has to call it quits for good. I hope to se Filho back at once he gets his head on right beceause he is a good fighter with enormous potential. But if he doesn’t turn it around he should hang it up.

by DB on Nov 18, 2008 6:26 PM EST reply actions