Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou cut from the UFC

by Jesse Holland on Nov 28, 2008 10:11 AM EST Comment 62 comments

Be careful if you get a Christmas card from the UFC this month - it might not be that lifetime subscription to the jelly-of-the-month club you were hoping for.

Fresh on the heels of recent releases of Fabricio Werdum and Jorge Gurgel, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou has been cut from the UFC roster according to Five Ounces of Pain .

Sokoudjou, who was signed to the UFC after bursting onto the PRIDE scene with KO wins over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Ricardo Arona, lost his Octagon debut to the undefeated Lyoto Machida via arm-triangle choke in the second round of his highly anticipated debut at UFC 79.

"The African Assassin" rebounded from that loss to finish Kazuhiro Nakamura at UFC 84: "Ill Will" back in May. Soukoudjou poured it on thick in the opening frame and the tough as nails Japanese fighter couldn’t answer the bell for the second round.

Unfortunately he was not able to capitalize on that momentum, falling to loose-lipped Luis Cane via second round TKO at UFC 89 back in October. Apparently the UFC doesn't see a reason to move forward with the still learning twenty-four year old striker and talented Judokan.

No question the Cameroonian's youth and marketability will have him back on the fight scene sooner rather than later. Sokoudjou has talent, now he just needs a place he can go to refine it.

I hear Strikeforce is hiring.

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Strikeforce will grab him for sure. HUGE bolster to their roster if they do. And i see him being back in the UFC in a year or so.

by Chris on Nov 28, 2008 10:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

i agree. i feel worse for soku than werdum, but i dont think he will be out of work for long.

by b.w. on Nov 28, 2008 11:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i think the same he needs to develope a bit but he has alot of room to grow he is young

by roy on Nov 28, 2008 11:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would like to see Babalu vs. Soko in strikeforce

Soko vs. TIto in Affliction would be great as well….He would DEMOLISH tito

by john on Nov 28, 2008 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also lil Nog vs Soko II. I think both babalu and lil nog take him but tito no so much.

by NameNotRequired on Nov 28, 2008 1:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

now i dont feel so bad for soku. he’s gonna do just fine.

by b.w. on Nov 28, 2008 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I missed Jorge Gurgel fighting Soko…

by ViolentMike on Dec 1, 2008 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not a big loss to the UFC!

I see him putting a string a wins outside the UFC and he’ll be back in 2010

by braveheart on Nov 28, 2008 10:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree. I think the UFC wanted out of the contract. He’ll put together a couple of wins and sign a contract that pays a little less.

by Shadyone33 on Nov 28, 2008 10:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, he hasn’t impressed me one bit! My guess is cheik Kongo isn’t too far behind!

by kevin on Nov 28, 2008 10:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would hate to see both of these fighters gone. That said, both have not been impressive in the octagon. Both have talent and seem to be marketable guys, but you gotta perform in the cage too.

I see Soko back in a year or year and a half. Kongo, not so sure. I don’t know how old he is, but I remember him approaching 30+. I hope he has enough time to learn a bit more.

by Jeff on Nov 28, 2008 1:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

whats there not to be impressed about? He lost to Machida, big surprise! He wasnt supposed to win that fight.

Then he MAULS Nakamura who isnt the greatest fighter, but he is tough as hell to finish. Finished him in 1 round. Nakamura has fought much better fighters and has rarely been finished by any of them.

Then he fights Banha Cane…That was an even match up. Banha is the truth. No shame in that loss either.

I am sorry but I just dont get why they would cut Soko! He only makes about $40 per fight…This kid has an extremely bright future. This is a terrible decision by the UFC. I hope to see him at the NYE K-1/DReam show!

I would feed him Akiyama

by john on Nov 28, 2008 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The UFC needs to stop letting guys like this go and keeping all the douche bags from TUF on their roster.The guys 24 years old with an exciting style his losses were nothing to be ashamed of an undefeated Machida and Cane.Brandon Vera has been a MUCH bigger disappointment and is still around,so it’s not entirely about money ‘cause Vera isn’t cheap,and James Irvin,Matt Hamil,Reese Andy,Mike Patt,Tomasz Drwal,Eric Shafer,and Houston Alexander are still with the UFC it doesn’t make any sense.I didn’t mind Werdum leaving but this was a bad release.He won’t be looking for work long Strikeforce will jump at him or he could return to Japan.

by Robert on Nov 28, 2008 12:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the only guy you named from tuf was hamil. i dont see them keeping andy reese or houston alexander for long. as far as vera is concerned, the only reason the ufc hasnt cut him is b/c they are planning on having a major event in the philippines next year, and he is a big star in his home country. after that i can guarantee you they will ask him to take a paycut or be let go. remember when the ufc signed DENIS KANG and everyone was so happy. well you can count on them signing jake shields and a few other former elite stars. they are freeing up money by releasing fighters that are not living up to expectations to hire new blood in the future.

by b.w. on Nov 28, 2008 2:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Alexander just signed a new contract. A five fight deal, I think. I had a bigger problem with the UFC cutting Werdum. But I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a simmilar situation with the UFC attempting to give him a pay cut and him not accepted. But as far as I’m concerned this isn’t a big loss. I would have liked to have seen him get another fight with the UFC, but he’s definatley not in the title pcutre.

by DB on Nov 28, 2008 3:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

houston may have signed a new contract, but 1 more loss and he’s history imo.

by b.w. on Nov 28, 2008 3:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

talk about a guy who did not live up to the hype. he looks like the predator. maybe he could land a role if they make another movie.

by day1er on Nov 28, 2008 10:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

He certainly didn’t, but he’s still very young and has a lot of room for growth. I don’t know what’s been going on with Team Quest, but maybe a change of scenery would do him well.

The LHW division is so stacked, and there are no easy fights. Forrest, Rampage, Machida, Shogun, Rashad Evans, Liddell, Wanderlei, Thiago Silva, Rich Franklin, Jardine, Hendo. They’re all UFC fighters that are arguably top 10 fighters, while Sokoudjou no longer is.

by R-Dizzle on Nov 28, 2008 10:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What about Tomasz Drwal,James Irvin,Eric Shafer,Stephan Bonnar,Houston Alexander,Ivan Serati,Mike Patt,Matt Hamil,Reese Andy and I could go on. Hardly top 10 fighters and none better than Sokoudjou.All by the way still with the UFC,and if some idiot is going to say this is a money issue then what about Brandon Vera he’s been a much bigger disappointment,and he’s not fighting for cheap not to mention Sokoudjou is 24 Vera is 32.Sokoudjou lost to Machida and Cane look at who some of these other guys lost to makes no sense.

by Robert on Nov 28, 2008 1:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Check the payouts, Vera isn’t making the money that Sokoudjou was. Also, who knows? Maybe Vera’s next..

And you answered your own question with the guys you listed. They’re not making the same money that Sokoudjou was. Yes, that’s what it was all about. Sokoudjou was getting paid a lot of money to beat guys like Luiz Cane. Not lose to them. Just like Werdum. Like it or not, neither guy was marketable. If Sokoudjou WON he could have paid for himself with his marketability, but he didn’t. So now what? Are they supposed to pay him a boat load of money to fight a can to get him back on track? No thanks..

By the way, if Houston Alexander doesn’t win his next fight, he’s gone too. That’s if he even gets a next fight.

by R-Dizzle on Nov 28, 2008 8:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, Vera might be getting paid more. I’m pretty sure he is. The main reason they’re hanging on to him is because they’re trying to move in to the Phillipines. The best way to do that is with a Filipino fighter.

Of course, like I said, who knows if he’ll be next.. The economy is F’d right now. No one thought Werdum would be cut either, but really, it was a good business decision. Hell, Affliction didn’t want to pay him big money either.

by R-Dizzle on Nov 28, 2008 8:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pinoys rock! Vera may be a loser nowadays, but Filipinos ain’t backin’ down from anyone. Check out the Pacman-Dela Hoya fight next week…All-out WAR Pac-man!!

by Syd[a.k.a. "The Negation"] on Nov 29, 2008 8:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, Team Quest has not been impressive at all since Randy left,maybe he needs to join Xtreme Couture

by scott on Nov 28, 2008 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Randy hasn’t been with Team Quest for years.

by Robert on Nov 28, 2008 2:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

For a couple of years ,and they have not looked good since,you acted like it has been a decade,two long years whoa,thats a really long time

by scott on Nov 28, 2008 10:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Randy Couture hasn’t been with Team Quest since before his
2nd fight with Liddell that’s longer than 2 years.I was simply trying to point out if Team Quest fighters are having a bad year it’s got nothing to do with Randy Coutur not being there.

by shatner on Nov 28, 2008 11:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think his 2 quick KO wins got to his head. He still has a ton of KO power, and a great Judo base. He’s also pretty young, so I could see him improving his game and getting back to the ufc in the future. He just needs to worry about more than just going for a quick KO win. He also needs to get some cardio

by yohnstoppable on Nov 28, 2008 11:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

movies is actually a good idea for soku. he’s got a very marketable “look” to be an action star.

by JB on Nov 28, 2008 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I am little suprized but I understand in the LHW division it is very tough. Good luck and hopefully we will see him back in the UFC after he polishes up his game. He has the potential to make it big.

by TKO on Nov 28, 2008 10:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sok’s in his low 20’s isnt he? When i watch him fight with all his ankle and knee braces I cant help but think this guy isnt going to be able to fight much after his 30s. Besides that all it seems you have to do is make it past the first 2 or 3 minutes of the fight before is slowed down frustrated and vulnerable.

by Earthfirst! on Nov 28, 2008 10:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

There not knee braces there pads.

by Robert on Nov 28, 2008 12:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They’re not pads you morong, they’re tape.

by hjlhj on Nov 28, 2008 1:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

it’s not morong, it’s moron :)

by DB on Nov 28, 2008 3:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Haha! Morong is a place here in Rizal Philippines, haha!

by Syd[a.k.a. "The Negation"] on Nov 29, 2008 8:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Strikeforce should definitely get this guy. A fight with Babalu would be good.

by Belisarius on Nov 28, 2008 10:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

wow, did not expect that. That was a bad move imo. they signed Karo to an 8 fight contract extension and this guy eats it.

by canadianmma on Nov 28, 2008 10:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Soko looked like crap in his last fight and his match with Machida was pretty lame as well. This is disappointing, but really not surprising.

I dont know what he was doing when he fought Cain – Soko just stood there not moving his head or feet, just waiting to get hit.

by stevo on Nov 28, 2008 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah that was his game plan I’m sure stand there and get hit.

by shatner on Nov 28, 2008 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously, who wants to see Karo fight 8 MORE TIMES? Not me.

In my opinion he is a d-bag who has boring fights. As someone mentioned earlier in the thread though the UFC is potentially clearing up some money to make some big signatures (ex. Kang) so I don’t really have a problem with this – let his get some more fights under his belt, polish up his game a bit then he will be back.

by WB on Nov 28, 2008 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

sucks but they were paying him alot of money i think he will be back in a year or so

by bryant on Nov 28, 2008 10:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

He did good in Pride but he must have had some Cage fright or something.

Hopefully we will see him get back to what he was in Pride.

by Calgary Real Estate on Nov 28, 2008 11:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I bet the next bunch of fights in the ufc will be great, all the fighters are going to let it all hang out to insure they are not cut…

by jet99 on Nov 28, 2008 11:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It’s not like he lost fights to chumps either. I think the UFC is too quick to dump payroll right now. He is a young guy, good charisma, big wins over Little Nog and Arona. He just happened to be in very stacked division. Young, promising UFC fighters that lose 1 or 2 fights seem to be very expendable right now it seems.

by introvert on Nov 28, 2008 11:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Doesn’t surprise me. I never really bought into the guy, mainly because his two famous K.O’s reminded me of of how Hasim Rahman got lucky and knocked out Lennox Lewis (or you can compare them to Serra/GSP I). Machida (although he is not a favorite of mine) prety much exposed him and Cane knew just to weather the initial storm of punches and kicks, let him gas, then move in for the kill. Maybe he can be a stunt double in the next “Alien vs Predator” movie, if they make one. He’s got the hair.

by the_mexicutioner on Nov 28, 2008 11:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Do you guys not know anyone with dreadlocks? Do you tell them they look like the Predator when you meet them?

by Space on Nov 28, 2008 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes I do know people with dreads, and yes I have told them they have Predator hair.

by the_mexicutioner on Nov 28, 2008 6:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope Affliction signs him….I want to see he and Little Nog go at it again.

by introvert on Nov 28, 2008 11:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

sokoudjou stumbled right out of the gates in the UFC, for sure. but he does have a shitload of potential and could be an excellent fighter sooner rather than later. its not that surprising that the UFC cut him, but seriously, how do you cut guys like sokoudjou and keep houston alexander? honestly.

by Hardcase on Nov 28, 2008 11:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

they got rid of him because they were overpaying him to begin with.

im sure he’ll be back, ufc will no doubt take him back whilst paying him a lot less next time.

by ben on Nov 28, 2008 11:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

thats too bad – his last fight he was explosive as hell and put together some really really nice striking combinations – the guy has skill

just needs to work on his cardio/muscular endurance

by jerrolds on Nov 28, 2008 12:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He might be good somewhere else but he definitely cant hang with the boys in the UFC. Look at Babalu he is the new Chump in Strikeforce sorry I meant to say Champ but he couldnt beat his way out of a wet paper bag in the UFC. I have to admit though, that was quite the cut he delivered to Bobby Chumpsworth……nasty cut!!

by Spyder on Nov 28, 2008 1:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I for one ,hope he makes in back in the UFC,he has loads of talent,I just think they started him out on the wrong foot,by putting him in there with Machida.I do not think that should be held against him.Who doesn’t look bad against him,his style makes everybody look bad.Give him a year and he should be back in UFC

by scott on Nov 28, 2008 2:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t agree in letting him go there are obviously guys in the UFC he can beat but it’s not the end of the world for Sokoudjou he’ll be getting a lot of offers.Strikeforce,Sengoku,Dream and others I’m sure will be contacting him as long as he’s not asking for unreasonable money like Werdum he won’t be a free agent long.

by shatner on Nov 28, 2008 3:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sokoudjou needs to work on his cardio or he will always be in trouble

by Thebending on Nov 28, 2008 5:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He can always fall back on steroids.

by Spyder on Nov 28, 2008 6:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The steroid issue in this society is really getting to be old.People can throw that accusation around at random and it’s gotten to the point now where it’s OK to just accuse someone of being a user with no proof whatsoever.I don’t know why people do it but it’s getting to be the norm where at least one or two people are going to bring that up for no reason at all other than to throw it out there.

by shatner on Nov 28, 2008 9:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Its almost like Dana wakes up and thinks “I feel like cutting someone today.” This is getting bad, Soko will do just great though. Strikeforce to the rescue!

by medecine balls on Nov 28, 2008 9:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

this is a thing that the UFC isn’t all that good with, marketing their talents the right way.. the UFC thought that Sokodjou would beat Cane, not many fans new about Cane because he hadn’t gotten any exposure at all and those who did know about Cane knew he was going to beat Soko.. bad matchups for soko and a waste of money on a guy that they won’t build up the way they should.. they were trying to rush him into contention too fast!

by RoB on Nov 28, 2008 10:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Nooooo!!!! Okay, I realize his UFC record wasn’t spectacular, but I had high hopes that he’s rally. Here’s hoping he does better in another promotion. Maybe he’ll be back. The guy’s still really young as fighters go.

by MMACrossfire on Nov 28, 2008 10:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs