Thomas, Speer and Hironaka Cut

Twist of Suffy · 05-05-2008, 08:47 PM

Quote:

The UFC has cut former UFC lightweight contender Din Thomas (22-8 MMA, 5-4 UFC), "The Ultimate Fighter 6" runner-up Tommy Speer (9-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) and Shooto veteran Kuniyoshi Hironaka (11-5 MMA, 1-3 UFC) from its roster of fighters.

The news was reported in this week's print edition of the Wrestling Observer.

The three fighters are the latest casualties as the UFC continues to cut its roster by a reported 25 percent.

Thomas, 31, made his octagon debut in 2001 as a highly touted prospect with a 10-1 record. Victories over UFC champ Jens Pulver and veteran Japanese fighter Dokonjonosuke Mishima earned him a UFC contract, but he eventually left the organization in early 2003. He'd return, via a "comeback" fourth season of "The Ultimate Fighter," and re-emerged as a contender after consecutive victories over Rich Clementi, Clay Guida and Jeremy Stephens.

However, Thomas suffered a significant knee injury in a main event loss to Kenny Florian, and he then dropped a unanimous decision to Josh Neer earlier this month. According to the report, he is considering whether to retire or continue fighting outside the organization. Despite rumors he has not been assigned to the WEC, the UFC's sister organization, but he does plan to move to 145 pounds.

Speer, 23, excelled on the sixth season of "The Ultimate Fighter" but suffered a first-round submission to Mac Danzig at the show's live finale. He subsequently suffered a devestating 51-second knockout to Anthony Johnson last month at UFC Fight Night 13.

Hironaka, 31, made his octagon debut at UFC 64 and took top welterweight contender Jon Fitch to a decision in a loss. He bounced back for a decision victory over Forrest Petz but has since suffered second-round TKOs to Thiago Alves and Jonathan Goulet.

Other fighters dropped from their UFC contracts over the past month include Joe Doerksen, Travis Lutter, Charles McCarthy, Jake O'Brien and Kalib Starnes. Additionally, numerous cast members from "The Ultimate Fighter 6" were cut earlier this year, and the majority of cast members from the current season of "TUF" will be released from the organization next month.

UFC officials have recently stated that they want to trim the roster to assure fighters can be scheduled more frequently and to avoid long layoffs between fights.

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Din is going to fight at 145 in WEC anyways so it's no big deal, however I'm really surprised by Hironaka he just had fotn with Goulet and now he's cut? As for Speer kinda surprised but he has no striking at all literally known and in the ww division where guys like Hughes, GSP, Kos, Fitch all own at wrestling what chance does he have.

Dmac · 05-06-2008, 05:40 AM

Good ridance to Speer, I never liked him on the show, never liked him after show which means I still don't like him now, it was damn luck and it should have been George in the finale, it would have done a lot more for George because I mean Mac would have been signed anyway, it was wrong to make him go through TUF to get a contract when he was perfectly capable before hand.

As for Din I'm not so sure that 145 is the reason he was cut, he has been having legal issues for a while now, hopefully he is going to be fighting at 145 but there is nothing confirmed.

dustcloud97 · 05-10-2008, 11:17 PM

Okay Din Thomas should hang it up, seriously, instead of dropping to 145 because the only things waiting for him in the WEC at 145 are a rematch with Pulver and a violent, bloody destruction at the hands of Urijah Faber. I seriously think the UFC needs to think about adding the 145 division just so they can bring Faber up and expose the world to the dominance that is "The California Kid"

The release of O'Brien is surprising because he seemed like he was on the up and up as far as his potential went. I don't know though, I guess since the next edition of TUF is likely gonna have heavyweights, they found O'Brien expendable.

God I hope they decide to make Kimbo Slice go through TUF, I'd love to see a show where everybody is gunning for ONE guy.

Twist of Suffy · 05-11-2008, 12:49 AM

Yes...because it's UFC decisions to make Kimbo go through TUF.

If Dana did ever suck back on his pride and signed Kimbo, he would not go through TUF he's way too big a name he's bigger than BJ Penn, Rampage, GSP, Silva, and Nog...because all the hardcore mma fans know of him and there are millions of very very casual or not even mma fans that know of him.

Sir Nicky Talent · 05-11-2008, 11:04 AM

Gawd. You talk about spring cleaning in the WWE. How about the UFC? Lutter, O'Brien, now Thomas. WOnder who else will be cut, because I have a feeling this isn't done.

Dmac · 05-11-2008, 05:03 PM

It was wrong for the UFC to make Mac Danzig go through TUF but come on, he isn't a huge name now is he, his star power is obviously higher now from the show but before that only hardcore MMA fans would have knew him.

Firstly, Dana will never sign Kimbo no matter how much Chuck begs him to and even if he did which is never, he would not go through TUF, no way in hell, end of.

Thomas, Speer and Hironaka Cut

This is a discussion on Thomas, Speer and Hironaka Cut within the MMA - Mixed Martial Arts forums, part of the Sports Forums category; The UFC has cut former UFC lightweight contender Din Thomas (22-8 MMA, 5-4 UFC), "The Ultimate Fighter 6" runner-up Tommy ...