Extreme Unemployment

By: James Lynch | Posted: Monday, February 16th, 2009 at 7:57 pm.

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With World Extreme Cagefighting dropping yet another weight
class a few weeks ago, and the recent UFC
roster cuts, one has to wonder if these both go hand in hand. Its tempting
for most MMA news websites to put an “unemployed” section, as it seems UFC
fighters are being cut on a weekly basis. I understand the mentality of Zuffa
“trimming of the fat”, keeping only the most exciting and deserving competitors
in the organization. While the WEC has added a new flyweight division, it has
also crowded the UFC welterweight division, as both Carlos Condit and Brock
Larson have scheduled UFC bouts in the coming months. It’s also no coincidence
that while Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann scheduled to fight on upcoming UFC
cards, that Jason Lambert and Reese Andy are out of work. While this philosophy
might work for now, I think Zuffa is missing the bigger picture here.

When the WEC was purchased back
in 2006, the idea of running a separate organization was intriguing. The
hope (for myself at least) was the UFC treating the WEC like a minor league
organization or a farm system. Similar to how the National Hockey League uses
the AHL as a developmental league, a mix of prospects and veterans who are rewarded
with a big league call up meriting a good performance. At the time, all the
major weight classes were in tact from featherweight all the way up to light
heavyweight. I liked the idea of seeing some familiar faces like Jamie Varner,
who just months prior, came off a hard fought loss against Hermes Franca at UFC
62. Even some UFC veterans like John Alessio, Joe Doerksen and Brock Larson
where in the mix, enough to grab my attention and tune into the broadcast. This
was with the notion, that any of these fighters should they win a few in a row,
find themselves back with the UFC. However late last year this vision was
shattered when Zuffa decided to drop both
the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions in the WEC, leaving
anything under and including 155lbs. The idea was to showcase the organization
around stars like Uriah Faber and Miguel Torres.

The problem is that these two superstars won’t be around
forever and Zuffa is essentially banking on the creation of new superstars in
this “lighter version” of the WEC. But lets be honest, featherweight champion
Mike Brown isn’t getting fans jumping out of their seats. Jens Pulver is
close to retiring, and their lightweight champion Jamie Varner looks
to be sidelined for most of the year. There are a few bright spots in the
organization like Leonard Garcia, Donald Cerrone and recent signee
Rafael Assuncao.

While I don’t doubt the stellar talent the WEC has to offer,
it’s troubling watching some cards with two competitors the fans don’t have a
clue about. On the same note, it’s a waste for Zuffa release talent from the
Ultimate Fighter. Had the WEC been treated like a minor league organization, it
would be a perfect place to put all those competitors on seasons that didn’t
make it to the finals (or were cut shortly after). At the very least, these
fighters already have TV recognition with established personalities. Offer them
up one fight in the WEC, should they lose then release them. UFC veterans would
clearly benefit from this model too. How much more interesting would the WEC
welterweight division have been with someone like Chris Lytle or Karo Parysian
? Or say the WEC Light-Heavyweight division adding Stephan Bonner or Houston
Alexander? The point is people want to see these guys fight, and keeping them
on UFC undercards (or even worse unemployed) is pointless.

But back to the roster cuts themselves some make sense while
others don’t. The general understanding with most fighters is that if you lose
more than two fights you’re cut. Releasing someone like Rameau Thierry Sokoju
proved to make sense as in his Affliction bout with Babalu, he gassed like
usual in the second round and clearly needs more developmental work. But how a
fighter like lightweight Rich Clementi (a familiar face from the Ultimate
Fighter season 4 cast) loses two fights after winning 4 in a row is currently
unemployed is beyond me. It’s especially interesting when you have fighters
like Jeremy Horn, who have lost 3 in a row (and hasn’t won a fight in almost 3
years!) and are still under contract. In Clementi’s case, clearly he has
marketability and fans coming from the Ultimate Fighter. Had they felt he
couldn’t offer the UFC lightweight division anything, Zuffa could have sent him
down to the WEC, and added a decent veteran to the young core of 155ers. They
would still capitalize on his viewership and marketability in another capacity,
rather than giving another organization that benefit.

The hope is that some of these pink slip combatants will
find success through other organizations. If you look at the success someone
like Robbie Lawler is having since being cut from the UFC some time ago, there
is a chance for success outside the octagon. Keep in mind with Strikeforce beefing
up its promotion, and Affliction still selling t-shirts; there are other
organizations out there that will scoop these fighters up soon enough.

CATEGORIES:Editorial