Here are a just a few fighters on the verge of getting cut and their stories. You are now their managers and you get to say yes no to any fights and you get to suggest fights for them. Suggest three fights for one of or all of them (or anyone else you think is on the verge of getting cut) that are potentially winnable and each one a successively better fight so that by the end, this fighter might once again be a notable UFC competitor or retire proudly:
Anthony Perosh: Back in 2006, still bright and early in his career, Perosh got the call to the big show. Unfortunately, he would unceremoniously lose two in a row and be quickly cut. 4 years later, now in his early 40’s, he hasn’t done much of note in his career, but circumstances gave him another shot in the big show. 1) The UFC decided to do a show in Australia, so they needed Australian fighters. 2) The UFC was giving a second shot to Mirko CroCop, an expensive contract with a fighter who was supposed to be a big ticket seller, but just wasn’t producing for them, so they needed him to get a win under his belt. Mirko got that win, but Perosh finagled a multi fight contract deal that was probably supposed to end after three. But then he did the unexpected and won 3 in a row. His contract was renewed. He lost his next fight and then fought a great ADCC competitor whom many thought would eventually prove to be a great UFC fighter in Vinny Magalhaes. And once again Perosh stunned the world with a big KO! Since then he has gone 1 – 2 and most people think his magic is gone. Help him be more than a Hippo...help him be King Hippo!
Fabio Maldonado – In 2010 he entered the UFC with one of the most extensive and successful boxing careers a UFC fighter has had (22 – 0 – 0, mostly against nobodies, but still not bad). Having gone 5 – 5 he has gone from at times looking like the next big thing to looking like a soccer Dad who should have never been allowed in the cage for his own safety. But one thing is for sure, he comes to fight! He is exciting, and that alone has probably allowed his career to survive in the UFC. Help this man be not just a side show, but a main attraction.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira – Rarely do the younger brothers live up to their older brothers legacy (Nate Diaz – Nick Diaz, Joe Lauzon – Dan Lauzon, Jim Miller – Dan Miller). Alright, technically the Nogs are twins, but little Nog has always been in big Nog’s shadow. That being said, at the close of Pride he was 12 – 3. Between Pride and UFC he went 5 – 0. He seemed Prime to reach the level of glory his had, but then he got smacked in the face by UFC. Now 4 – 4 he has looked as unimpressive in his wins in the UFC as he has in his losses. He still seems to have all the tools needed to be great, he just doesn’t seem to bring them to the cage with him. Help Lil Nog become at least Medium Nog!
Nate Marquardt – By the time Marquardt reached the big show, he already had a veterans career having gone 20 – 6 – 2 with multiple Pancrase championships. Although his UFC run was decent, going 10 – 4 with a title shot that he lost, it was becoming clear that he was always going to bob around near the top, but never quite get there. Making the wise decision, he left the UFC to build his career up again. And that he did, quickly becoming the Strikeforce WW champion. Just before Strikeforce ended, Marquardt did something all the other champions were “too injured” to do and actually defended his belt one last time. He might have entered the UFC with an almost immediate title shot, unfortunately, he lost that final Strikeforce fight to Tarec Saffedine in one of the most painful displays of leg kicking ever witnessed. So while he was re – invited to the UFC, it wasn’t with a red carpet and unfortunately he has gone 2 – 6 since then. Help Nate remind people why they use to call him “The great.”
Takanori Gomi – Many UFC fans whom were clearly addicted to Manga growing up, were chomping at the bit to see Gomi enter the UFC. That being said they watched with a wary eye. Gomi had been one of the all time great LW’s and that is how he was touted to the UFC casuals. But the Gomi fans new that since the loss to Aurelio, he had never really looked his former self. Meanwhile the UFC wasn’t picking up the then truly best Japanese fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri, whom they wouldn’t end up signing until he was 37!!! Still, if Gomi could land, he could be the hope of JMMA. Finally a Japanese UFC champion! Alas, at 4 – 6, he simply isn’t landing those bombs enough. At 36 years old, give this man 3 fights that he can end a career on and go out reminding us who the fireball kid really is!
Anthony Perosh: Back in 2006, still bright and early in his career, Perosh got the call to the big show. Unfortunately, he would unceremoniously lose two in a row and be quickly cut. 4 years later, now in his early 40’s, he hasn’t done much of note in his career, but circumstances gave him another shot in the big show. 1) The UFC decided to do a show in Australia, so they needed Australian fighters. 2) The UFC was giving a second shot to Mirko CroCop, an expensive contract with a fighter who was supposed to be a big ticket seller, but just wasn’t producing for them, so they needed him to get a win under his belt. Mirko got that win, but Perosh finagled a multi fight contract deal that was probably supposed to end after three. But then he did the unexpected and won 3 in a row. His contract was renewed. He lost his next fight and then fought a great ADCC competitor whom many thought would eventually prove to be a great UFC fighter in Vinny Magalhaes. And once again Perosh stunned the world with a big KO! Since then he has gone 1 – 2 and most people think his magic is gone. Help him be more than a Hippo...help him be King Hippo!
Fabio Maldonado – In 2010 he entered the UFC with one of the most extensive and successful boxing careers a UFC fighter has had (22 – 0 – 0, mostly against nobodies, but still not bad). Having gone 5 – 5 he has gone from at times looking like the next big thing to looking like a soccer Dad who should have never been allowed in the cage for his own safety. But one thing is for sure, he comes to fight! He is exciting, and that alone has probably allowed his career to survive in the UFC. Help this man be not just a side show, but a main attraction.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira – Rarely do the younger brothers live up to their older brothers legacy (Nate Diaz – Nick Diaz, Joe Lauzon – Dan Lauzon, Jim Miller – Dan Miller). Alright, technically the Nogs are twins, but little Nog has always been in big Nog’s shadow. That being said, at the close of Pride he was 12 – 3. Between Pride and UFC he went 5 – 0. He seemed Prime to reach the level of glory his had, but then he got smacked in the face by UFC. Now 4 – 4 he has looked as unimpressive in his wins in the UFC as he has in his losses. He still seems to have all the tools needed to be great, he just doesn’t seem to bring them to the cage with him. Help Lil Nog become at least Medium Nog!
Nate Marquardt – By the time Marquardt reached the big show, he already had a veterans career having gone 20 – 6 – 2 with multiple Pancrase championships. Although his UFC run was decent, going 10 – 4 with a title shot that he lost, it was becoming clear that he was always going to bob around near the top, but never quite get there. Making the wise decision, he left the UFC to build his career up again. And that he did, quickly becoming the Strikeforce WW champion. Just before Strikeforce ended, Marquardt did something all the other champions were “too injured” to do and actually defended his belt one last time. He might have entered the UFC with an almost immediate title shot, unfortunately, he lost that final Strikeforce fight to Tarec Saffedine in one of the most painful displays of leg kicking ever witnessed. So while he was re – invited to the UFC, it wasn’t with a red carpet and unfortunately he has gone 2 – 6 since then. Help Nate remind people why they use to call him “The great.”
Takanori Gomi – Many UFC fans whom were clearly addicted to Manga growing up, were chomping at the bit to see Gomi enter the UFC. That being said they watched with a wary eye. Gomi had been one of the all time great LW’s and that is how he was touted to the UFC casuals. But the Gomi fans new that since the loss to Aurelio, he had never really looked his former self. Meanwhile the UFC wasn’t picking up the then truly best Japanese fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri, whom they wouldn’t end up signing until he was 37!!! Still, if Gomi could land, he could be the hope of JMMA. Finally a Japanese UFC champion! Alas, at 4 – 6, he simply isn’t landing those bombs enough. At 36 years old, give this man 3 fights that he can end a career on and go out reminding us who the fireball kid really is!
Last edited:
