Wait, Now McCrory and Leites Aren’t Cut From the UFC?
(Cancel those food stamp applications, boys. Things are going to be okay.)
Just as the MMA world had digested the news that welterweight Tamdan McCrory and middleweight Thales Leites were being released from the UFC following decision losses at UFC 101, Dana White throws us all for a loop by telling Kevin Iole that not only are they both still employed with the organization, he apparently “wasn’t aware of plans to drop both Leites and welterweight Tamdan McCrory and said he would reverse those decisions.”
So that’s weird, right? When we talked to McCrory earlier this week, he seemed absolutely convinced that he’d been fired, even referencing the specific phone call where he got the news. Now Dana White says that he didn’t know UFC fighters were being called up and told to clean out their proverbial lockers?
This can only mean one of two things: either the UFC is recoiling from a negative public reaction to the news and is trying to change its mind without looking like a bunch of flip-floppers, or else Joe Silva has gone rogue.
We like the second explanation, just because it’s more fun to imagine Silva drunk with power, staying up at night and calling everyone from Tamdan McCrory to Georges St. Pierre and telling them their services are no longer needed. Unlikely? Absolutely. Hilarious image? Definitely.
Either way, there’s bound to be more to this story. An attempt to get a comment from McCrory this morning was unsuccessful, but we’ll keep on this and see if we can’t figure out what’s going on.
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Comments
Jackal Says:
Dana likes butt scooting
ktfo Says:
Nice i didnt feel Mcrory deserved to be cut, hes 3-3 give him another fight, and BARONI is BACK. word is he has signed a multi fight deal with the ufc. love him or hate him, this fool comes to fight, hes either knockin someone out or getting ktfo (usually) WAR Baroni
Just A Wrestler Says:
Butt scooting like Dana. Make-a-the-world-a-go-a-round.
SiDeBuRnZ Says:
glad you're back barn cat. let the pussy-related jokes resume!
Viper29 Says:
I bet it's because they would both head over to Strikeforce and add some more depth to the middleweight division. That is if McCrory wants to move up to middleweight.
ArmFarmer Says:
Glad barncat's back, but don't bother informing Leites he still has a job. No interest in ever seeing him again.
One Two Says:
I think dana reads all kinds of internet shit hes always talking about it, probabally saw the outpouring of dissapointment from barncat fans and changed his mind. UFC 104 Tamdan vs Baroni billed as Bully Beatdown!
Jugger Says:
Have you seen this Barncat? Because he is awesome.
imakeutap Says:
MEOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
portland mma Says:
Fuck Leites, but cutting McCrory could have been a big mistake, he could have been a pretty decent addition to strikeforce and I guarantee thats why whom ever's decision it was is getting reversed.
ihateemo Says:
I like McCrory a lot and think that he deserves another chance. I was surprised they 86'd him.
Leites, on the other hand, is probably only being kept under contract just to cock block Strikeforce (who would probably set him up to fight Jake Shields, given that they're both grapplers and hit like girls). Under normal circumstances, I imagine he would be cut loose without hesitation, given the following points:
a) He's lost two in a row - three, if you include the fact that Marquardt only lost that split-decision thanks to the BS "back of the head" point deduction. Which I do, because Marquardt kicked his ass.
b) He just lost to ALESSIO SAKARA. No offense to the Bangin' Italian, but I personally feel that even *I* could take that guy down and submit him. For a guy who just came off a title fight, he should have plowed through someone who is basically the dregs of the middleweight division.
c) WORST CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT EVA!!! /Baroni - I was astonished that Leites was not handed a pink slip that same night.
Enjoy life on the undercard, Thales! I guess we'll see you fight next in about eight months!
LoneWolf Says:
NICE! Welcome back barn cat! As for Thales, ehh let him sign with strikeforce....maybe he can move up to light heavy or challenge Shields, would be an interesting match up.
Cookie Monster Says:
take that strikeforce
MyFightWiffaCheeto Says:
WOOOOOOOOO!!! BARNCAT IS BACK!!!!
ArmFarmer Says:
@ihateemo
I've never agreed with so much in one post.. and that includes your screen name. Marquardt man handled Leites and I lost 300 bucks because of that piss poor ref/judge job. I also lost a parlay because of his sorry ass losing to Sakara. So he has cost me money in both victory and defeat.. as well as bored me to tears against Silva. I hope his next opponent breaks his face.
Videodrome_NOW Says:
Somehow I think Dethklok had something to do with this.
I Tap 2 Fat Chicks Says:
The BarnCat is back! Let the sucky feline puns abound. He scratched his way back to the UFC, or maybe he show's he has nine lives, or he was a whiskers's hair from being cut.
Dana decides he's the "cat's meow"... or Dana has cat scratch fever.
Sadly i have no sucky barn puns.
Kadumel Says:
I just heard that the Barncat is not being asked to come back to the UFC as this article states. I saw Dana at the airport and he filled me in on everything. Sorry guys.
puhalu Says:
lol. They're back out again.
Dana's on a Yo-Yo diet of mediocre fighters. Binge, purge, binge, purge.
ihateemo Says:
@ArmFarmer
And THAT'S why I don't bet on MMA. :)
But yes, may his next opponent send him on his merry way out of the UFC with a losing streak that would make Stephan Bonner proud.
Bill C. Says:
WOO YEAH! Barn Cat is BACK!!!!!!!!
Komodo Says:
Good deal :)