DFW comments on release of JDS and 'Reem

Underground
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UFC President Dana White spoke recently with TMZ Sports about the release earlier this week of heavyweight stars Junior dos Santos, 37, and Alistair Overeem, 40.

“Nothing happened behind the scenes,” explained White. “They’re both great guys who have had incredible careers here. First of all, people get cut every week. I think those two are pretty self-explanatory. It’s nothing negative, it’s just part of the sport. If you look up what they’ve done recently, you look at their age, you look at everything that’s going on, it’s pretty self-explanatory.”

White was asked if the releases were amicable, if there was any bad blood.

“Not even close, 100 percent,” replied White. “We’ve had a great run and love Alistair and the same with Junior dos Santos. Alistair Overeem never said no to a fight. Never turned down a fight, never said no, would fight anybody. And Junior dos Santos is one of the nicest human beings in the sport. So nothing but amazing things to say about both guys.”

“It’s not even that [the relationship] ran its course. The one thing, age gets us all. Those guys are getting - I’m sitting here talking about how good they are, I don’t want to sit here and s*** on them, but listen, we all get old. We cut people every week. Every week, people come and people go.”

Dos Santos, a former champion, leaves ranked #12 in the division, on a four-fight losing streak, all via TKO, inside two rounds; his opponents are currently ranked #1, #3, #4, and #6 in the division. Overeem, ranked #7, leaves 2-2 his last four.

Both Overeem and dos Santos responded to the release with grace and thanks for the opportunity. UG, what did you think when you heard about the releases?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeEYt2K_l58

h/t Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting

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Romero made no sense, but yeah, I get why he cut these two.

But with Rumble, Romero, and now more and more familiar names, Bellator and other UFC rivals will get better ratings. I will sure watch Bellator’s LHW tournament now!

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Sprawl'n'Stall - Romero made no sense, but yeah, I get why he cut these two.

But with Rumble, Romero, and now more and more familiar names, Bellator and other UFC rivals will get better ratings. I will sure watch Bellator’s LHW tournament now!

If Coker picks them up, we could have another great HW GP!

This could be 1st round brackets (all fights we never seen before):

Bader vs Minakov

Overeem vs Kongo

JDS vs Kharitonov

Mitrione vs Barnett

Someone send this to Coker!

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It’s probably to late but there was a time Fedor v Overeem would have been a big fight.

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SuperFightFan -
Sprawl'n'Stall - Romero made no sense, but yeah, I get why he cut these two.

But with Rumble, Romero, and now more and more familiar names, Bellator and other UFC rivals will get better ratings. I will sure watch Bellator’s LHW tournament now!

If Coker picks them up, we could have another great HW GP!

This could be 1st round brackets (all fights we never seen before):

Bader vs Minakov

Overeem vs Kongo

JDS vs Kharitonov

Mitrione vs Barnett

Someone send this to Coker!

JDS vs Sergei has fireworks written all over it. 

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If it were me, I would have kept them a bit longer, but UFC is a business.

For me dudes like Romero, Rumble, JDS, Overeem were still like much watch UFC, in a way that a lot of the newer guys are not yet.

It does not seem like JDS and overeem are upset so it does not make sense that fans would be.

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Overeem 40 and JDS 37, too old, happens to us all, Dana cuts both.

Desperately tries to have Georges St. Pierre 40 come out of retirement and fight Khabib. 

Derpy Dana.

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Both have had great careers. 2 of the greatest HW careers for sure but man they have both been in some health deteriorating battles on multiple occasions.

I think Reem can still have a nice run as he has had a few good stretches after a loss.

JDS as well. If they want to keep fighting I hope we see them in Bellator  

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always a bit sad when an era ends. both these guys are legends and great for the sport and will continue to be!

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JDS is done. not sure how many fights left. overeem, with one fight left on his contract, iirc, could have been given one more fight to go out with dignity. 

idk. im not mad. i feel like it could have been handled a little better. maybe called it something like a mutual decision for release. 

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In general I think fighters should be allowed to fight for as long as they want to and are still competitive. Not really upset about either of these, but would feel better with the fighters making the choice and not Dana.

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meanwhile Jessica Eye still has a job

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HULC -

In general I think fighters should be allowed to fight for as long as they want to and are still competitive. Not really upset about either of these, but would feel better with the fighters making the choice and not Dana.

They are still allowed to fight, just not under the UFC. These guys had big contracts and had no chance at becoming contenders anymore. With how they're losing recently and the mileage on their tanks, they become a liability.

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Shugum -

meanwhile Jessica Eye still has a job

So does Hannah Cifers, who holds the UFC record for shortest time span for 4 losses by finish: In just 7 months last year she was (T)KO'd 3 times and subbed once.

They scheduled her for yet another fight for last week, but she pulled out for some reason. As far as I know, she's still on the roster. Maybe she has some incriminating texts, e-mails, or audio/video recordings. I can't explain them keeping her for any other reason. She has a 2-5 record in UFC.