(Don’t worry Gabe, the world will always need drinking instructors… / Props: gonzagabjj)
Following two consecutive losses to Junior Dos Santos and Brendan Schaub (at UFC 121), former heavyweight title contender Gabriel Gonzaga has been released by the UFC. "Napao" confirmed the news via Twitter today, writing: "Official now – Out of UFC – Thanks for all your support – back to normal life and BJJ forever." Could Gonzaga really be retiring from MMA altogether? Come on bro, all you need is a new camp and a strategy that doesn’t focus on the absolute weakest part of your game…
Though he began his UFC career with four consecutive stoppage victories — culminating with an infamous head-kick knockout of Mirko Cro Cop — Gabriel Gonzaga was never the same after the unsuccessful title bid that came next. (Sound familiar?) Gonzaga was broken down by Randy Couture at UFC 74, losing by third-round TKO, and also suffered a TKO loss in his next fight against Fabricio Werdum.
Gonzaga went on to score victories against low-level talent like Justin McCully, Josh Hendricks, and Chris Tuchscherer, but continued to struggle against the elite in the division, suffering yet another stoppage loss to Shane Carwin last March. The defeats against Dos Santos and Schaub sealed his fate. Though we suggested Gabe be given one more shot against a low-level up-and-comer, the UFC had apparently seen enough. We’ll let you know if Gonzaga changes his mind about the whole "normal life" thing…
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Not that I disagree that he was overpaid in the UFC, warranting him being cut, but I can think of someone who shall not be named that was more expensive, yet also more worthless.