Old Men Enter, Young Man Leaves: UFC Brings Back Matyushenko, Ditches Leites
(Photo courtesy of daylife.com.)
Yesterday, we mentioned that the UFC had made the unexpected decision to bring back old-timer Dennis Hallman after a four-year absence from the organization. Now we've learned that the UFC has re-signed another hardy veteran, adding a fight between 38-year-old Vladimir Matyushenko and Igor Pokrajac to UFC 103. A one-time UFC light-heavyweight title contender, Matyushenko went 3-2 in the UFC from 2001-2003, scoring wins over Yuki Kondo, Travis Wiuff, and Pedro Rizzo. Since then, the Janitor has gone 9-1, became the IFL's light-heavyweight champion, and most recently won a decision over Jason Lambert at Call to Arms 1 in May. It was also reported that 35-year-old PRIDE/UFC vet Marcus Aurelio will be returning later this month at UFC 102. Between Vlad, Aurelio, Hallman, Ortiz, and the possibility that Chuck Liddell isn't quite retired, it's clear what's going on here: TUF 11: Last Call. The coaches will be Chuck and Tito, the minimum age will be 33, and the winner will receive $100,000 in prescription medication.
Of course, such acquisitions come with a price. As MMA Fanhouse reported, UFC middleweight Thales Leites was released from his contract yesterday, following his dull split-decision loss against Alessio Sakara at UFC 101. And to think, he was the #1 middleweight contender two fights ago; serves him right for trying to use that boring jiu-jitsu stuff. Leites joins Tamdan McCrory, Dan Cramer, and likely George Roop and Danillo Villefort in the sad gentleman's club of UFC fighters who have recently lost their jobs, meaning that every single bout on UFC 101's undercard turned out to be a "win or go home" match.
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Hamma Fist Elbo... Says:
The Barncat deserved to win. I'm pissed, this is lame.
Ouch That hurts Says:
"serves him right for trying to use that boring jiu-jitsu stuff" it's funny because it's true!
Now we know why Jorge Gurgel never lets his superior BJJ get in the way of his mediocre striking!
ArmFarmer Says:
Fuck Leites he cost me $350 on a 4 fight parlay. Silva, Penn, and George Sotriropolas, or whatever the fuck his name, is came through.. what was your deal Leites? First you give us the most boring title fight in history by being a scared little bitch then you cost me a lot of money.. you are officially my most hated fighter.. until the next time I lose money anyway.
One Two Says:
When i watched forest get destroyed I remember thinking maybe leites wasn't a complete pussy, just smart.
Mike Milbury Says:
Too bad for Leites. Hate to see anyone lose their job but he was one of those fighters who fought to not lose (As opposed to fight to win) even if it bored the fans.
ccarter Says:
Yeah, the only reason he was in the UFC this long, and got a number 1 contender match is because mate marquardt made a couple of mistakes and got points taken away and lost a split decision to him.
Just A Wrestler Says:
haha TUF 11: Last Call, boring jiu-jitsu stuff, reacharounds
The Clinch Says:
I don't agree with McCrory being let go, it's not like he's on a serious skid or anything, he's lost a couple exciting fights.. Kinda like Sakara. Hell, Gurgel went on a niiiiiiice skid before the UFC finally let him go, Alexander took a few beatings, etc.
Leites had promise at one time and then well.. Yeah, not to disappointed he's cut, maybe he can get back on track.
NateGetsIrate Says:
Good news Strikeforce fans, lol! Looks like some potentially good fight cards coming in the near future. I personally would like to see Jake Shields fight more considering all the hype surrounding him. I'd definitly watch Barncat vs. Shields over a UFC one-oh-somthing re-run.
ArmFarmer Says:
@One Two
No, pissing off all of the fans and the entire ufc is not being smart. Smart would have been going in there balls out and getting ktfo. Sure it would have hurt but at least people would respect you and want to see you fight again. There was 0 chance of him winning that fight and he knew it. He could have at least tried something crazy and tried to get lucky (see chonnan/silva) and at the very least gotten ko'd and given everyone what they wanted. Then he might still be employed.
@ccarter
Yeah funny thing is I lost 300 bucks on that fight as well.. so Leites has cost me 650 that fucking bastard. He got taken to school by Marquardt and he should have lost that one even with the bullshit point deductions. Yeah the knee was illegal but those elbows were crystal clear to the SIDE of the head, that was one of the worst ref calls I've ever seen. God I hate Leites.
bpd Says:
McCrory thinks he'll be back. I think he's right. It's not like he was ever completely outclassed in there. Until he returns...
WAR JANITOR
Chri534. Says:
@bpd:
Thanks for the idea. Even though I like Tamdan...
WAR ALLEYCAT
SiDeBuRnZ Says:
BARN CAT CHRI534!!!
BARN CAT!!!
Chri534. Says:
@DiDeBuRnZ:
That was the joke.
Komodo Says:
Trippy... Matyushenko quite randomly popped into my head last week.
gracie_nuthugger Says:
Just 3-4 months ago, everyone here was trying to convince themselves that Leites was among the elite of his division, now he's a bum.
Im be more impressed if brown nosers had the guts to say that then rather than now.
That Montreal main event in April was total fucking shit (maybe not as much as the one with Leben on the main card) yet people lapped it up because they lurv the logo.