UFC cuts Rich Clementi and Luigi Fioravanti . Well that sucks... Clementi submitted Anthony...

Fioravanti is gone too. The culling has begun.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Feb 9, 2009 4:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Spring cleaning starts early I guess.

by George Lucas on Feb 9, 2009 6:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Add Christian Wellisch and Eddie Sanchez to the list.

It’s weird that they’re willing to cut these heavyweights. The division is very shallow (globally as well as in the UFC) so one would think that these guys would be cherished a little more. Perhaps they’ve got new heavyweights they intend to sign?

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Feb 10, 2009 2:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wellisch’s last fight was at 205 and Eddie Sanchez recently lost to Justin McCully.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Feb 10, 2009 2:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wellisch’s last fight against O’Brien was at 205? I have to admit I have not paid too much attention to his career. Thanks for the heads up.

And Eddie lost to Hardonk before his loss to McCully, nonetheless with the weakness of the division, I would have thought they might keep him around for another fight. He was an effective gauge for heavyweights entering the UFC: if you didn’t beat him, you got the boot. I figured that they would have matched him up against Al-Turk or Stojnic in a loser goes home style match.

It’s hardly a giant news piece or a great injustice against the integrity of the sport, but with the state that the heavyweight division is in, I’m surprised almost anytime someone is cut from the UFC’s heavyweight division.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Feb 10, 2009 3:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wellisch was rightfully cut. Sanchez should have gotten a fight against Stojnic, IMO.

by Michaelthebox on Feb 10, 2009 3:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Kind of funny how Houston Alexander gets to stay though.

...some call me "el mexicutioner"...

by _Felix_ on Feb 9, 2009 11:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Clementi would be a perfect addition for Strikeforce.

by Michaelthebox on Feb 9, 2009 4:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wow...

I was surprised to see Clementi get let go. He was always willing to jump in and take a fight on short notice. He was never going to be a superstar but he seemed like the kind of guy that would have a career as long as he wanted.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 9, 2009 5:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed; seemed like a real company guy, and his fights were usually interesting at least. He got bullied by a stronger opponent, but still… it’s kinda crazy.

I think the writing was on the wall for Fioravanti. His fights were boring.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on Feb 9, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Zuffa has been willing lately to resign people again for fights on short notice.

by iiowyn on Feb 9, 2009 8:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

While I get it (2-Losses Rule), I’m kinda upset – he was always a game opponent (except when being smothered by Maynard), and he was part of my “Bring UFC to Louisiana” plan.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Feb 9, 2009 5:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I suppose Houston Alexander gets the “4-losses” clause? ;)

by Scott Haber on Feb 10, 2009 12:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

People like watching him fight...

which always buys you a few extra losses. No one was dying to watch Rich fight, he was a very nice undercard fill-in guy and someone I would have liked to see stick around for a while. But he doesn’t have the same draw as Houston

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 10, 2009 10:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fiorivanti needs to cut to 155. End of story.

by Bigperm on Feb 9, 2009 5:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He certainly has a lot of middle to lose. He could be much better at that weight. He is awful short for 170

by SplitBreast on Feb 9, 2009 6:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He’s just not very good. He has slow and looping hands that aren’t really a threat to anyone. His wrestling is decent against the guys with no takedown defense and his jiu jitsu is enough to let him survive against some opponents but overall he’s just not UFC callibre.

I doubt he could drop the weight anyway when he had trouble making 170 and even if he did I doubt he’d be very effective.

by SamCupitt on Feb 10, 2009 7:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's odd...

because he shows up sometimes and his hands look good but most of the time, yeah…they’re slow and the technique isn’t there.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 10, 2009 10:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

BOOOO!!

Rich Clementi for President! =)

Seriously, he’s a gamer that always puts on a good show! Sorry to see him get cut, and hope he bounces back shortly.

Jay K.

by JAYGK95 on Feb 9, 2009 5:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Before his loss to Maynard, Clementi had won four straight UFC fights. I’m sure he’ll land on his feet, but that is another cut that is hard to justify when you’re bring in 0-0 guys and other talent that is generally not worthy of being in the UFC. It seems like they’re eliminating non-draws like Clementi to make room for guys like Efrain Escudero and Tom Egan who may not be nearly as good, but have some kind of useful fanbase.

by smoogy on Feb 9, 2009 5:21 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

0-0 guys are far cheaper than Clementi, and 0-0 guys usually don’t get signed unless A) they already have a fanbase IE: Matt Riddle B) Are from some foreign country in which the UFC plans to hold shows in. I guess the UFC could of kept Rich around to be a gatekeeper but Guida’s already got a stranglehold on that position. I am not shocked at either of these cuts, neither guy was all that exciting, I can’t remember a time where I said, “Boy I can’t wait to see that Rich Clementi fight!” I mean the guy is solid competition but like I said, his fights aren’t all that crowd pleasing and he really doesn’t have any potential to get better. I’d rather see the UFC use the money he was paid to sign a couple high potential/low experience guys.

by Buddha Brown on Feb 9, 2009 7:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

wouldn’t be surprised to see clementi pick up a win on a smaller show, and get invited back. it’s happened with him before, right?

by woooburn on Feb 9, 2009 5:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I think we’ll see Clementi back. I think the next time you see a 155 lber pull out on short notice – and Jim Miller isn’t available – you’ll see Clementi back in the Octagon.

by SamCupitt on Feb 10, 2009 7:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dammit!

I liked Clementi :( Especially, as you say, from the Guillard fight. I was out of my seat happy at the end of that one.

Ah well, hopefully someone else picks him up.

by mythbuster on Feb 9, 2009 5:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I am a little mixed on Clementi. He was a decent fighter and I figured they would at least have him fight Guillard again.

Floravanti just isn’t a ww in today’s mma, imo.

Hopefully these guys can cash in on their time in the UFC when they go to another promotion.

If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.

by BJJDenver on Feb 9, 2009 5:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wow. That sucks. Rich fought. Plain and simple, he fought. I really expect him and Luigi to return very shortly. Luigi won 3 of his past 5 fights, so I am a little shocked to see him out as well. But yet Manny Gamburyan (who should be 145 in the WEC) Ryan Jansen and Matt Arroyo is still on the roster.

by "Mr. NC-17" on Feb 9, 2009 5:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

now rich's nickname makes more sense

by Headkick on Feb 9, 2009 5:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Too man guys....

Too many guys that can fill the roles these 2 filled. The UFC, as many shows as they are putting on, have a ton of guys and they need spots to put them in.

If these 2 can win some bigger fights outside the UFC they can work their way back in. I still think Luigi needs to cut to 55 if at all possible. He looks very soft at 170.

by Dexerion on Feb 9, 2009 6:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The UFC is losing all their gatekeepers! First Roan, now these two! Nooooooooo!

by ilostmydog on Feb 9, 2009 6:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I actually know Luigi a little bit when he used to train out of the now-defunct “Knockout Fitness” in Orlando.

Although I found him somewhat unapproachable (he has a close knit group of friends), I wish him the best. I’m sure that he can make some good coin in another promotion—perhaps Strikeforce or maybe even Affliction. He’s still young and can be improve — and he might end up back in the UFC at some point.

Making a living as an MMA Fighter isn’t easy. So best of luck to both of these guys.

by rollecdr on Feb 9, 2009 6:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

With strikeforce booking 12 events and a potential 4 more they will need all the fighters they can get… and ex UFC fighters who have been on TV will benefit Strikeforce.

This is Zuffa helping the sport.

by mmalogic on Feb 9, 2009 6:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

lol@ mmalogic….there is some truth in that though.

http://www.mmaforreal.com

by Kelvin Hunt on Feb 9, 2009 6:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This was a loser leave town match all the way

Best of luck to Clementi. Luigi, cut down.

by subo on Feb 9, 2009 6:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Clementi made $23k and Luigi made $13 in their last fights (doubled if they had won). This might have been a contributing factor, specifically for Clementi.

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"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Feb 9, 2009 7:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It’s possible that Clementi asked to be cut when asked to take a cut. He can probably make bank on CBS and win a few against some lower risk competition, then try to come back around in a year. In any case, I hope he lands on his feet and I’m sure no bridges were burned.

by Blackout612 on Feb 9, 2009 8:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Clementi always intrigued me, he seemed to have a real respect for the sport and a willingness to learn all aspects of the game. Great presence, good fights and seemed to be a good guy. Tibau looked twice his size, I agree that Clementi will land somewhere and find success, I just hope he can find a good showcase for his skills and fighting spirit.

by dualdiagnosis on Feb 9, 2009 11:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs