Zuffa releases Thales Leites following UFC 101 loss
by Jesse Holland on Aug 13, 2009 12:19 PM EDT
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It’s win or go home lately inside the Octagon … literally.
The UFC — in a move to trim its roster and offer the better fighters more opportunities to compete — has once again released several fighters from their contracts including one half of the Montreal Snoozejob, Thales Leites, according to MMA Fanhouse.
The Brazilian joins George Roop, Dan Cramer and Tamdan McCrory on the growing list of recent Zuffa contract casualties.
Leites was heading into UFC 101 on August 8 in a must-win situation after his lackluster performance against middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 97: "Redemption" last April.
The Nova Uniao product was able to do what no man has done up until this point — survive five rounds with "The Spider." But "survive" was all he seemed willing to do -- there was very little offense for 25 minutes. In fact, he basically played keep-away once he realized that he would be unable to implement his slick jiu-jitsu skills.
The performance did not go over well with the public at large, as well as UFC executives, including company president Dana White, who admitted at the post-fight press conference that he was "embarrassed." Leites had five wins in six attempts prior to the loss, three of which came via submissions.
His chance to turn things around and perhaps dazzle fans with an electrifying finish was stifled by hard-hitting Alessio Sakara in Philadelphia. "Legionarious" forced him to the judges scorecards and walked out of "The Keystone State" with a split decision victory.
The only positive to being released is that opportunities to fight still exist outside of Zuffa. Don’t be surprised to see any one of these talents reappear in competing promotions sooner rather than later.
If nothing else this latest news puts more pressure on fighters to not only win, but perform well if given the chance to fight for the UFC. It also ensures that, hopefully, we see more of the top fighters competing against better competition more often.
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I wouldn’t of cut Barncat. I know he lost but I think he’s one for the future. Hope he bounces back with a few wins and back to the UFC
by IrishKev on Aug 13, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
McCrory says that it’s a tough weight cut for him. He’ll take some time to put on some size and I’m sure we’ll see him back in the UFC as a competitive middle weight.
by Dave O on Aug 13, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
leites vs kalib starnes might be a good fight..
by shamo84 on Aug 13, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions
It’d be the most boring fight ever… no one would ever engage… they wouldn’t even cross the ring at each other.
by StuckinMod(FormerlyFedorfightscans,Sp00ner1234) on Aug 13, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Feel sorry for McCrory he’s a decent fighter and is in good fights, bit harsh releasing Cramer as well. Roop wasn’t good enough and as for Leites…good riddance to bad rubbish, have fun lying on the floor and getting booed out of the building by 50 drunk rednecks, you had your shot and blew it.
by David W-S on Aug 13, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s a tough business, but he brought it on himself. He had a golden opportunity at the title and chose to spend the whole night flopping on his back.
by RealDrew on Aug 13, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
by kevin on Aug 13, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Man that was totally awesome, I am drunk just now, but I got to admit that is some FUNNY shit! :D
by Jake on Aug 13, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I will not lay awake tonight mourning the dumping of Leites, something else crossed my mind. Was thinking of the Leites/Marquardt fight, and even with the refs errors, it was still a relatively even, competitive fight. This makes me think Maia has a decent chance of beating Marquardt. Maia’s strengths are in the same areas as Leites, but Maia has better skills and I believe is more versatile.
by CL on Aug 13, 2009 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Kimbo sucks, Bisping got KO’d and so did Miguel Torres. Ha Ha.
by mike on Aug 13, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions
ROFL pat, i’m so using this line on someone!
“you have a firm grasp on the obvious”
by R3b3L iNk on Aug 13, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
aww man i like watch the barn cat fight he always brings in, i think he could have been a good gate keeper.
by ruan-fiy on Aug 13, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions
he’s young he’ll be back and bigger at middleweight
by pat on Aug 13, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he was doomed from the start, barring a KO victory or a sub; cause that fight really wasn’t all that bad. The Pelligrino vs Neer fight was more of a snooze fest than this one. Gives SF another decent MW fighter I guess.
by O damn he got caught on Aug 13, 2009 12:23 PM EDT reply actions
are you serious OD? I was there and rooting for Sakara, was convinced if it hit the ground it was over. Sakara repeatedly got up. Even Sakara looked bad though, the fight overall was a snoozer!
by kevin on Aug 13, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Well I wasn’t there, but I watched it today with no sound and it was better than the Neer/Batman fight; that was 3 rds of lay n prey.
by O damn he got caught on Aug 13, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Not saying it was FOTN; just saying I’ve seen a whole lot worse.
by O damn he got caught on Aug 13, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions
ufc 101
alpha and mike, try this, hope it links.
he should be cut and by the way John, Diaz would kill him!
by kevin on Aug 13, 2009 12:23 PM EDT reply actions
Wished better for Tamdan
by Mauro Ranallo's "level trajectory" elbow on Aug 13, 2009 12:24 PM EDT reply actions
Yeah I don’t know why they released McCrory. Yeah, he was 2-3 in the UFC, but freakin’ Houstan Alexander was on a 3 fight skid and it took him awhile to get cut.
Can’t say Thales is a surprise. Strikeforce would do well for their MWs to pick him up.
by Synyster on Aug 13, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s not about their records, it’s about who they are..
by RoBerto on Aug 13, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I know its not about records, but as Ranchoo said below, most his fights were fairly exciting.
by Synyster on Aug 13, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I just said it’s about who they are. not how exciting their fights were or not
by RoBerto on Aug 13, 2009 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions
never like to bash fighters But you cant be in there with the best if you aren’t well rounded. While great in bjj he didn’t have the striking and clearly either the wrestling. Its not like he’s Damien mia bjj either. If he got destroyed by silva the way that griffin did he’d probably still have his job. You always remember the guys who give it there all a whole lot more than those who just play it safe. He’ll never be back in the ufc imo
by put cyborg in playboy on Aug 13, 2009 12:24 PM EDT reply actions
Aside from Tamdan McCrory’s recent decision loss to John Howard, I thought all of his fights have been entertaining to watch.
by Rancho Coocoo on Aug 13, 2009 12:25 PM EDT reply actions
Sadly the only reason I’ll remember him is for the absolutley Sic sub Mclovin caught him in .
by O damn he got caught on Aug 13, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I remember his fight at 96. Beat the crap outta that dude till he tapped to strikes. But his post fight interview was better “…I rode in here on my motherf*cking Thunderhorse and got sh*t done!” lol
by Synyster on Aug 13, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Tamdan really confuses me, i thought he showed alot of promise. Toughest Geek i know.
by Dixon on Aug 13, 2009 12:25 PM EDT reply actions
Personally, I feel bad for Thales. I really like him, but you got to bring it. His fight with Marquardt was one of my favorites. I wonder if he will sign with Dream or Strikeforce or just fight in smaller Brazilian shows to just try and get back to the UFC?
by BNF on Aug 13, 2009 12:26 PM EDT reply actions
i think strikeforce picks him up but sucks for the barncat i don’t know why they cut him after a split decision roop had to go already
by bryant on Aug 13, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions
Maybe its that walkout song thingy, I dont think that was smart, saying that in post fight interview, and DW was reminded of it at the Q&A. Bit far off theory but hey weirder stuff has happened.
by Mauro Ranallo's "level trajectory" elbow on Aug 13, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions
That fight would have been awesome! They’d have to supply the crowd with free rotten fruit to throw after they got fed up booing the arena down.
by attakdog on Aug 13, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea I was lookin forward to that one; as well as sittin down with a few brews and watching the paint dry after I finish the final touch’s on my new bathroom.
by O damn he got caught on Aug 13, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Dana could have sold that fight as a non medicinal alternative to sleeping pills, he’d have coined it in!
by attakdog on Aug 13, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions
im sure that would do wonders for the ufc and da spider…
by gaara on Aug 14, 2009 2:59 AM EDT up reply actions
To be fair if it was under Pride rules then it’d be an awesome fight, Andy would do a flying stomp on that idiot’s head as soon as he lay down on the floor.
by David W-S on Aug 13, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Hyped Sliva VS Leitus II: “The only man to go the distance with Anderson ‘Spider’ Silva and he wants revenge!”
by DAVE A on Aug 13, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Well we know that we can’t trust anything Dana White says! At the post press conference a reporter asked if Thalis would be let go and he said no. He should have said we will have to see. He sucks anyway! How did he even get the fight with Anderson?
by mayhemike on Aug 13, 2009 12:33 PM EDT reply actions
post fight press conference they will not say if a fighter gets cut or not. journalists should know better. its a stupid question in the hope for a scoop. as if this type of info is ever released at a post fight press conference.
by Mauro Ranallo's "level trajectory" elbow on Aug 13, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
not suprised…although dana did say leites was not in trouble w/ the company at the post 101 press..kinda shocked they let the barn cat go though
by Kevin A. on Aug 13, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions
signing 16-18 affliction guys = others being cut. he couldve done well but his last 2 it didnt even look like he wanted to fight.
maybe a move to strikeforce can light a fire under him again.
by danburoojy on Aug 13, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions
Thank god Leites is gone. They should have cut him after his Silva embarrassment.
by Miketsi on Aug 13, 2009 12:47 PM EDT reply actions
He was such an exciting fighter what a shame.
by ~Savage~ on Aug 13, 2009 12:55 PM EDT reply actions
What’s so funny I’m serious….bahaha I can’t even say that with a straight face
by ~Savage~ on Aug 13, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
McCrory will be back, kids got heart and Dana loves that. Just needs time to hit the 190 or so mark so he can be a force with the MWs. As for the others… good call. They need to make some room for up and comers to keep it fresh.
by Xsjado on Aug 13, 2009 1:00 PM EDT reply actions
Yes you have to understand there will be many cuts the UFC has been signing quite a few guys. Some are obviously just fill in with no real future but you need guys like that.
Tamden and Thales salaries just dont match what they bring to the UFC.
So sign a few schmucks for bodies and a few up and comers and a few big names. There probably will be more. The UFC cant keep everyone.
by Badguy on Aug 13, 2009 1:31 PM EDT reply actions
Oh he’s a good fighter, he should of had at least one more shot. But I guess if you don’t come to fight for the belt and then lose to a journeyman you get what you’ve earned. With as many injuries as there are in MMA he will be back in the UFC by next year. So really no big deal.
by jigga4713 on Aug 13, 2009 1:48 PM EDT reply actions
Gotta admit. Sakara looks good as a MW. His standup was light years ahead of Thales. Made him look an amatuer. But then again. He was a pro boxer.
I like sakara for some reason. I hope he does well in the mw division.
by terribleone on Aug 13, 2009 2:00 PM EDT reply actions
i like the fact that u noticed that sakar BJJ and boxing are getting better and better
by tony on Aug 13, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Thank God… nothing I hate more than watching a fighter who doesn’t fight with any conviction or strong will to be the best. Hit the bricks Leites!
by Andiesel on Aug 13, 2009 2:16 PM EDT reply actions
Why doesn’t Zuffa cut Forrest for pouting like a little baby and running out of the cage…..TWWWWIIIIIIIIICE. Talk about a person with some psychological problems….Cheers!!!!!
by 2girls1cup on Aug 13, 2009 2:32 PM EDT reply actions
All of these fighters will be walking straight in the Strikeforce/Dream set up … some good fighters released, I look forward to seeing them again in the cage at the next Strikeforce show :)
by DownUnder on Aug 13, 2009 3:01 PM EDT reply actions
never really got behind Leites, especially after he got pummeled in his debut
by Mr. Bones on Aug 13, 2009 7:03 PM EDT reply actions
The funny thing about the release of Leites is that it was brought up to Dana in the Post fight press conference who seemed to indicate Leites was safe. Guess not.
The UFC brass liked Leites when he kept fighting after the illegal knee in the Marquardt fight but I guess it’s the ole “what have you done for me lately?” thinking on his release.
by sudnvictory on Aug 14, 2009 1:24 AM EDT reply actions
little dissapointed about the barn cat, really like him, but he will be back !
by apex103 on Aug 14, 2009 4:22 AM EDT reply actions
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