(Jason Lambert, post-mastectomy. Photo courtesy of MMA Weekly.)
In addition to the 5,500 jobs that automaker GM cut last week, struggling light-heavyweight-turned-middleweight Jason Lambert has also joined the growing ranks of the unemployed in America. FiveOuncesofPain confirms that The Punisher — who had been knocked out twice and choked out once in his last three Octagon appearances — has been officially cut by the UFC.
Lambert began his UFC career on an impressive 4-1 tear, earning stoppage wins over Rob MacDonald (at his UFC debut in March 2006), Terry Martin, and Branden Lee Hinkle, and scoring an upset knockout of Renato Sobral at UFC 68; his sole loss during that time came via TKO at the fists of Rashad Evans. But then things started to go south. His occasionally lazy boxing got him smoked by Wilson Gouveia at UFC 80, and again by Luis Cane at UFC 85. Most recently, he made his middleweight debut at UFC 88 in September and succumbed to a rear-naked choke from Jason MacDonald.
Tough break, but that’s what happens when you drop three straight (unless you’re Houston Alexander, of course). We’re guessing that Josh Burkman will be getting his walking papers next; the People’s Warrior has been defeated consecutively by Mike Swick, Dustin Hazelett, and Pete Sell, and is now out-of-action indefinitely with a back injury.
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I doubt Burkman will get cut. He may be on a slide right now, but his fights are very entertaining. Burkman has a knack for making his fights exciting. If a fighter looses in exciting fashion and is a gamer I will watch them even if they are on a 20 fight slide. I think that the UFC recognizes that in a number of us fans.