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UFC cuts Sokky

5K views 70 replies 41 participants last post by  Flak 
#1 ·
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/11/27/rameau-thierry-sokoudjou-released-by-the-ufc/

Light heavyweight competitor Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou can be added to the list of fighters recently released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com first became aware of Sokoudjou having been dropped from the UFC roster last week but could not find a second source for verification. However, published reports have surfaced on the Internet today confirming his release.

Sokoudjou’s release comes as the culmination of a disappointing stint in the UFC that began with high hopes. An accomplished Judoka hailing from Cameroon, Sokoudjou became an overnight success while competing for the PRIDE Fighting Championships.

Entering the promotion with a 2-1 record, many considered Sokoudjou a significant underdog during an encounter at PRIDE 33 in February of 2007 in which he was matched up against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Despite the long odds, Sokoudjou managed to upset the native Brazilian with a knockout just 23 seconds into the bout.

Sokoudjou returned a couple of months later at PRIDE 34 in April of the same year and was matched up against another renowned Brazilian light heavyweight in Ricardo Arona. Despite his win over Nogueira, Sokoudjou was still pegged as the underdog. However, lightning struck twice with Sokoudjou knocking out Arona at 1:59 into the first round.

After becoming a free agent following Zuffa’s acquisition of PRIDE, Sokoudjou negotiated with several promotions before inking a deal with the UFC late last year. After signing with the organization, he was immediately thrown into the fire last December at UFC 79 with another talented Brazilian light heavyweight. This time, Sokoudjou would not be nearly as successful as he submitted to an arm triangle at the hands of the undefeated Lyoto Machida at 4:20 of round 2.

Sokoudjou rebounded at UFC 84 with a first round TKO over Kazuhiro Nakamura after Nakamura was unable to continue into the second round because of a leg injury. However, Sokoudjou’s winning ways would be short lived after being TKO’d a 4:15 of round 2 against Luis Cane at UFC 89 last month.
Well to be honest I don't think it's a good choice but I can't blame the UFC.

At this point Sokky needs fights because the talent is there he just lacks fights.

However 205 is loaded and the UFC didn't need him.
 
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#5 ·
It's a good time to be a mid level promotion. With Elite XC bankrupt and the UFC cutting top guys Strikeforce and other orgs of that size are going to benefit.

I mean a guy like Sokky would be huge for other orgs.
 
#7 ·
Bit of a surpise, even though he's off to a bad start I still see some potential there. He does need to fight more often however and maybe one of the other org's can pick him up soon. I don't know about all this cutting by the UFC, its leaving the door open for others org's to make a good roster! and cheap too!
 
#9 ·
Honestly I think Sokky needs to gain some experiance in a smaller org and try to come back, he needs to develop something besides his bursts of striking because you cant knock everyone out in the first minute.

I will bet money Houstan Alexander gets his walking papers in the next 7 days.
 
#11 ·
(Whistleing Loudly) Cant believe that...well I guess i can believe it cuz he was doing badly and I agree with bbjd that he just needs more fights....

Could all these cuts also be comming from the UFC as a result of the economy and how tight things are or do you guys think these cuts would have all happened???:dunno:
 
#65 ·
Indeed. He can go and rematch Rogerio Nogueira. And lose this time. :thumb02:
 
#13 ·
Well atleast he is still pretty young, but damn with some cardio he could have really been a force. His first fight he was thrown up against who many would consider the best LHW in the world, trashes Nakamura who is a solid fighter, and was beating Cane till he gassed. I don't know who is running the business model at the UFC, but it is starting to look pretty bad right now. I think this organization is going to be in serious trouble in a couple of years.
 
#18 ·
maybe the UFC wants fewer fights so that more will get recognized by casual fans....? fewer fighters = fewer fighters for casual fans to remember?

Thats actually a great point....i mean if I'm Dana and I think about Sokky and how many fights it would take him to earn a title shot assuming he won all his fights its prob more than sokky had left on his contract.....so that would mean having to resign him and if he was winning all his fights Sokky would prob ask for more money.....better to cut him now and then bring him back....same with Jorge...but I never see jorge commin back.......:thumb02:
 
#19 ·
People gotta consider that Sokky was coming off two monster wins when the UFC signed him and those probably delivered him a much larger contract than he really deserves.
 
#23 ·
Damn after looking no wonder Sokky got caught, he makes more than Thiago Silva (about double), Sean Sherk (fairly close), Keith Jardine (About 4X as much), 8X as much as Palhares, Sokky was making a fairly high per fight deal, he was getting $40, 000 to show and $80, 000 to win which is pretty expensive for what is basicaly a mid level fighter at best.
 
#27 ·
we hardly ever agree on anything and the fact that i dont like Jardine cements that, but, you are right about Jardine being the most underpaid fighter in the UFC..

the man should be on WAY more than what he is on.. he deserves much better.
 
#25 ·
Even Wandy made like 15 times what Jardine makes.
Gotta suck when you opponent makes 25X as much money as you after you beat him, shit Dana spends more on lapdances after after a PPV then he pays the Dean.
 
#26 ·
True and the crazy thing is the UFC got Sokky for cheap at the time because he decided he wanted to fight in the UFC and told Henderson to not worry about the money.

The UFC cutting Sokky isn't a blow to them I just wish they didn't.

And on Jardine it's because he lacks fans and unlike the pride guys doesn't have the crazy support of the hardcore fans like Shogun did.
 
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