Harris confirmed the news with MMA Fighting via text message on Tuesday.
Harris (17-3) had won three straight fights inside the Octagon after signing with the organization following an unsuccessful bid on season seven of "The Ultimate Fighter." The decision loss to Falcao is his first official loss in the UFC, and yet it was enough to bring about his release after the lackluster finish to Saturday's fight.
What makes Harris' release particularly surprising is that, in addition to being a very respectable 3-1 in the Octagon, he'd also won Knockout of the Night bonuses in two of his four fights with the UFC.
The latter of those two -- a violent slam knockout of Dave Branch at UFC 116 -- even landed Harris on ESPN's Sportscenter. After that highlight reel finish, Harris said, he became known to many casual fans simply as "the dude that slammed that dude."
Now, after a loss in a fight that saw a time-keeping controversy and an uninspired ending, he finds himself suddenly out of a job.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
He'll be back. The UFC has to make some cuts and unfortunaletly he was on the losing end of a boring third round.Not a good time to have a lack luster performance. Also, send a message to all fighters. But I think he'll be back.
It must exist some kind of assessment, objective analysis. It can´t depend only on the likes and dislikes of Dana White & friends. You see, Tyson Griffin, 3 fights - 3 losses, and now one more chance. Not that he does not deserve it, But there is a huge difference to the treatment that was given to Harris.
bummer
yet dave branch uses one of the worst guard pulls of all time and still has a job. Oh UFC :(...
Its sad to see him go, because I thought he was an exciting and explosive fighter. That being said, did anyone see Falcao's hands? WOW. I'm excited to see his UFC run.
3-1 with 2 bonus checks...sounds suspect to me
Salter, Miranda, Branch ... ? Sure he won 3 in the UFC (2 fight nights & 1 PPV undercard), but look at the competition. After what I saw on Saturday, he could have fought Falcao a dozen times and he would have lost every one. The 3-1 record and bonuses make the decision seem a little strange, but I think the decision is right. With the merger, the UFC doesn't have the room for guys who don't fight to win ... not to mention guys like Harris that don't have a huge following.
The timing between this and the whole controversy about the clock ending early is too coincidental. I have a feeling Dana or the UFC knows something more than we do. Something fishy is going on here.
I agree it seems very strange to be cut after one loss and a time keeping problem. I really hope that the UFC aren't going down the boxing path with suspect fights and outcomes. The sport couldn't survive that kind of controversy.
Everyone keeps bringing up his record but its a business. If nobody cares about the fighter, then getting cut won't hurt the company.
Harris is decent but his stupid style didn't work against Falcao. Perhaps they saw that he did tap in the first and felt it was unprofessional for him to have said he didn't or something? Attitude problems? You never know.
Harris thought they stopped the fight
harris was a head kick away from getting knock out.
that agrivates the crap outta me, he didnt deserve to be cut, neither did seth, but deff not harris, dana even said in the interview with helwani that the kid never showed quit. i dont get it. just shows that fedor was right, about how they treat there own fighters, for example dan henderson. ufc is great in just about every aspect, except the fact they dump on there guys, over a 3-1 and 2 win bonuses, thats bull. makes me look bad at dana, and "zuffa"
I'm another guy that thinks this is crazy...
I love the UFC but this is just garbage.
There's more to this story. We might have to wait until Helwani interviews Dana again to get an answer.
I hope I never see his retard monkey style in the octagon again --- frustrating to watch
I've never seen this guy fight before...not once.....but seriously...he's giving Tito another chance after four...4...loses and this guy is 17-3 lifetime....3-ONE in the UFC and it's byebye time....fishy,hinky,suspect....AND JUST DOWN RIGHT F*****G STUPID fit in here
i think there something behind it. its like when Todd Duffy got released because his attitude.
only time can tell whats push the ufc for this
Really i thought the whole attitude thing concerning Todd Duffee was bull. The UFC has been making alot of stupid cuts lately, Efrain Escudero, Todd Duffee, and now Gerald Harris something is definitely up.