Way to get rid of a guy who is actually talented, I guess Dana didn't like the way he was running his mouth, he'll find a job without any problems.

Godfather and all-around Mafia Aficionado

Co-Founder of The MMAFIA

Live Blogger for Fightticker.Com

My god! And he keeps guys like Bisping! I am starting to lose respect for him! I know he is a boxer, but he keeps forgeting what form of fighting still rules!
Lutter at LHW would be 10 times better than 1/2 the people on the UFC's pay roll. Not to mention him having trouble making weight at middle weight.

MMABrat
Run Forest Run

I am surprised but not upset. The guy is one dimensional and has shown up out of shape for both of his fights. Not sure if that warrants getting released but Lutter's lack of conditioning was disappointing.

this roster trim, in conjunction with the talk of removing the heavier weight classes in the WEC makes me think we'll see definitely consolidation from zuffa. that said, i think its a mistake because lutter can give a lot of people a good fight (and i'm not really sold on the upper weight classes from the WEC to the point where i believe a lutter or a lot of other not-quite-huge-name fighters could hang with the better WEC guys)

Lutter wasn't out of shape against Franklin, he exhausted himself early, he needs to learn how to pace himself and let's be honest 9 guys out of 10 submit to the armbar he put Franklin in.

Godfather and all-around Mafia Aficionado

Co-Founder of The MMAFIA

Live Blogger for Fightticker.Com

Why is Bisping the target of so much criticism? It boggles me...We are talking about how Lutter gets fired and someone brings up well why didn't they fire Bisping...BECAUSE HE WINS!!! He can throw them on the feet he can hold his own on the ground. Why this guy gets so little respect is beyond me...serisouly why the hatred? It can't be the fact that 3 judges picked him over Matt freakin Hamill in a decision? If that is the case then how can he control that? He is not boring like Koschek. He is usually a pritty decent interview. He is skilled. Is Matt Hamill such a God to MMA that he couldn't possibly lose a decision?

Now back to the topic. I don't think they should have fired Lutter and I think letting talent go just for the sake of "trimming the roster" is beyond stupid. Your trying to kill all these little piece of crap organizations out there why are you supplying them with name talent. SUre nobody is going to pay anything to watch Kalib but Lutter is a known name and people may pay to see him take on another talented guy in the other league. Not to mention that he had good fights with arguably the two best Middle Weights in the game Sylva and Franklin. Seems like a stupid time to let him go.

Amen SB. I don't understand the hate of Bisbing either. Yes he ran his mouth after the Hamill fight which was not the proper move but he's not perfect. People lose their cool. When you have a bunch of reports trying to get you to say "the judges are wrong I should have lost." He's going to stand up for the fact that he trained hard, he tried hard and the judges chose him.

I've always liked him besidse those comment and I'm looking forward to him fighting at MW. This guy has 1 loss and it was by split decision to a bigger stronger wrestler who pretty much just laid on him for a large portion of the fight.

I agree about Lutter shouldn't be fired. I don't know if the comments on here about some of the fans being idiots was part of it? I think he definitely deserved 1 or 2 more fights at least and if he lost those to lower end MW guys that cut him free but not after nearly breaking Franklin's arm and giving Silva one of the better fights he's had recently. Something has to be up because there are plenty of other MWs out there who would have been better choices to get trimmed down.

-The Captain

I'm sorry that a 10 year old's opinion damn near caused you to cry...but the fact remains.
Yes Bisping won....Did he win against anyone worth mentioning in the 185 pound division?
I would say not!
As for Lutter he lost to in a row to the top 2 in the division....Oh my....send him down the freakin road!

Her point was.....Let him fight some of the garbage fighters such as Bisping before you fire him.

EERS_1_Fan

Head of South East Tribe MMAFIA
MMABRAT, CaptnCrunch, and Michael are all going to start training in the devils MMA lol

not surprised at all by this cut...lutter missed weight for a championship fight, and then his next biggest fight he came out of shape. regardless if people say he was in shape but didn't pace himself...imagine if he somehow beat anderson silva and you have the new champ/face of the middleweight divison gassing after 1 and a half rounds?

normally i would say keep lutter, but since they're cutting every person who isn't giving 100% it's pretty reasonable

maybe we can see lutter in exc on may 31...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family
ULTIMATE CHALLENGE CHAMPION UFC 83

This does not surprise me at all... they are trying to trim a roster and unfortunately you dont keep guys around simply because they can beat most of the competition.... you keep them around because they win (yes) but also because they are marketable (see: Bisping). It's a two fold package needed... and although Lutter could beat most of the guys in the division, does the UFC really want him to? The guy is a bore in interviews, his style is not very exciting and we saw him ALMOST win two fights against the top guys but in the end he lost, he also lost to Prangly (who?) and Lindland while in the UFC... overall 2-4 in the UFC plus having the embarassment of missing weight in his title shot... he had his opportunity. Plus, he might be too good of a 'gate-keeper'... he beats the rising stars but cant beat the biggest stars in the MW fight game (Lindland, Franklin or Silva). He is not marketable himself and without being able to beat Rich or Silva, he won't really be relavent to the UFC. You dont sell tickets advertising Travis Lutter... or by having a guy like Lutter beat a rising star like Condit (should the match happen) - it's too big of a risk. So then, who would he fight?

I actually like the idea of the UFC getting slimmer... this means we will get to see the guys we want to see fight more often...

Tough to lose a guy as good as Lutter but I see your point Sixtus. Lutter has lost to the top two guys...both in close matches. So you can't just keep giving him chances you gotta let the next wave get thier shot. Your absolutly right about Lutter being too good of a gate keeper...I never really thought of it that way. But maybe Dana is using him as a measuring stick. We know where Lutter ranks in the UFC. Guys like Lindland, Kang and Filho not so much. Lutter is the perfect measuring stick for them. Lutter can go out there fight all these guys see how they measure up and that way Dana will know exactly what kind of money to offer them and/or whether or not to offer them anything. Of course if Lutter beats them all (could happen) then where would they be? Would Dana welcome Lutter back?

very good post sixtus.

i do think the UFC roster is way too big right now. cutting 50 fighters might be overkill, but i like the idea of seeing my favorite fighters fight 3-4 times a year instead of 1-2.