And Now He’s Fired: Gerald Harris (Wait, What the F*ck? Seriously?)
(Remember to include “proficient in jabbing” on your resume. / Photo courtesy of UFC.com)
UFC middleweight contender Gerald Harris confirmed last night that he has been released by the UFC following his decision loss to Maiquel Falcao at UFC 123. Yes, Gerald Harris, the SportsCenter highlight-maker and all-around nice guy, who had come into the fight with a 3-0 Octagon record and two Knockout of the Night bonuses under his belt. Even considering how lackluster his fight last weekend turned out, this has to be the most unexpected UFC firing in recent memory. Is the UFC so dead-set on trimming their roster with the influx of WEC talent that they’ll bounce a rising star for one bad showing? Maybe. But get this…
It was also confirmed yesterday that despite going on a three-fight losing skid in which he never made it out of the second round, Matt Brown will get another shot in the UFC. Really. And of course so will Maiquel Falcao — who shares at least half of the blame for the Harris fight turning into a dud — as well as lightweight contender Tyson Griffin, who hasn’t won a fight in over a year. If there’s more justification to Harris getting fired (and we sincerely hope there is), we’ll let you know when it emerges. Blind speculation time: Harris had just completed the last fight of a four-fight contract, so negotiation disputes could have played a factor.
In the meantime, Gerald’s fans have started a #BringBackGeraldHarris hashtag campaign on Twitter to let the UFC know how they feel. Harris was touched by the support, but added: “If u are a fan, please be respectful in your choice of words towards @danawhite & @ufc – voice your opinion in a positive manner.”
