Eliot Marshall Released from UFC after First Loss?

UFC on Versus 1 was where The Ultimate Fighter 8 alum Eliot Marshall (7-2) found himself on the losing end of a fight for the first time in inside the Octagon. Is this going to be a trend for the less known fighters?

Marshall lost to a top 15 fighter in “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (24-4) and his record inside the Octagon is now 3-1. The fight itself went to a decision where one judge had the fight for Marshall at 29-28 and the other two judges saw the fight for Vladimir with scores of 30-27. The fight was plagued by booed from the crowd in an attempt to get the fighters to engage more. Seems like it did not help though.

On an interview with MMA Junkie Eliot said I could have fought better,” “I could have fought more aggressively. I thought Vladdy wasn’t really engaging much; it was hard for me to find my distance with him.”

“But those are the kind of fights Vladdy has: he either beats the crap out of somebody or he has close decisions. I’m disappointed in myself. I didn’t fight to the best of my abilities.”

Regardless of the outcome many, including Marshall, are shocked by the cut. Yet in mixed martial arts (MMA) and specifically in the UFC the threat of being cut is always a possibility fighters are aware of every fight.

“They want to get rid of you, they get rid of you,” Marshall said. “If they don’t, they don’t. That’s how it goes.”

I understand that but with this being his first loss the cut must have been made from an excitement stand point. Eliot last fought “The Hitman” Jason Brilz (18-2-1) at UFC 103 and that fight went to a split decision as well.

“I beat Brilz, and he gets a little easier of a fight, and I get a little bit harder fight,” Marshall said. “And now, I’m the one that’s not there anymore, even though I fought a top-15 guy.

“I guess I should have lost the Brilz fight and fought Eric Schafer.”

We have heard Dana White and the UFC say in the past that it does not matter if you win or lose as long as you leave it all in the cage and put on a hell of a show. So maybe he could not overlook three decisions in his four UFC fights. Yet even though Dana stated wins and losses don’t matter, we all know that to be untrue.

If you doubt that just ask Brazilian jiu jitsu black black belt who would rather stand and trade, Jorge Gurgel (13-6). Jorge fought seven times in the UFC with three wins. Jorge put it on the line every fight and went away from his bread and butter just to be a more exciting fighter and satisfy the UFC. Yet Jorge is now cut from the company and fighting for Strikeforce.

So what exactly is the process for cutting a fighter? The trimming of fat is needed in any business and especially in arguably the top MMA promotion in the world. This is understood but not me, the fighters, the fans and I would venture to guess most employed by the UFC actually have a clue as to the criteria that decides a cut.

As a fighter who is under contract to UFC and Zuffa would you not like it to be stated what the stipulations are for being cut?

I feel that fighters the need to stand up and demand that they have a clear concise picture of what will get you cut written into their contracts. After all, isn’t that what contracts are for in the first place?