Kendall Grove and Brandon Vera to be Cut from UFC?

by NCSAR on Mar 2, 2009 10:08 AM EST

That is a question that is going to surface should either of the two lose this weekend at UFC 96.

To be honest it seems that whoever loses these two fights will get the boot!

Here is a link to a more in depth breakdown:

Some of the things said in this article.....

About Vera...

"Vera started off on fire winning his first 4 UFC fights. Since then he has drastically cooled off and dropped 3 of his last 4."

About Grove...

"The Spider has lost 2 of his last 3. His lone win is against UFC legend Evan Tanner."

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vera is like mayweather.. he just can’t get cut..

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by Anton Tabuena on Mar 2, 2009 10:19 AM EST reply actions

I always forget about Kendall.

I was like, “uhhh, Neil Grove never fought Evan Tanner.”

Wouldn’t miss either of these guys very much, to be honest. I don’t know what Vera’s problem is lately (yeah yeah, cutting weight…) but he’s gone from one of my favorite fighters to watch to someone I actually dread having to sit through when I see him on a card.

I refuse to believe the UFC would cut a TUF winner, though. (Travis Lutter doesn’t count.)

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by Chris Nelson on Mar 2, 2009 10:20 AM EST reply actions

oh shit i didnt notice that.. I thought he was talking about neil grove too hahaha.

(i better learn to read cause i didnt notice the tanner part haha)

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Mar 2, 2009 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

oh wait.. he did say neil grove in the title! maybe that's why we got confused? hahahah.

was that just updated now? or do i really suck at reading? hahahaha.

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Mar 2, 2009 10:42 AM EST up reply actions

No joke:

I changed the title so it would be less confusing and actually put “Neil Grove.” Jesus. They need to cut one of those guys.

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by Chris Nelson on Mar 2, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions

Vera is still around because he’s Filipino – the UFC desperately wants that market. But no matter what, he needs an impressive victory to win some fans back. If he loses and is released, he’ll probably end up in Affliction making huge $$$.

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by MMAEruption on Mar 2, 2009 10:29 AM EST reply actions

Maybe if it was 2008 but it seems that Affliction isn’t wanting to pay huge bucks to anyone anymore if the can help it(and they don’t care about viewers in the Philippines). Both these guys will find fights if they get cut but I’ve got a feeling that there aren’t any big contracts out there for either of them.

by who me on Mar 2, 2009 10:38 AM EST up reply actions

Denis Kang covers the Filipino market now.

If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.

by Ozzz on Mar 2, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

They like French-Koreans eh?

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by Chris Nelson on Mar 2, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions

Details, detials..

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by J. B. Maddox on Mar 2, 2009 4:40 PM EST up reply actions

My bad. I'd remembered his lineage as being Filipino, not Korean.

Folks can feel free to get over it.

If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.

by Ozzz on Mar 7, 2009 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

how the hell does dennis kang cover the filipino market?

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Mar 2, 2009 10:47 PM EST up reply actions

Okay good, I was wondering if there was a big Kang fanbase in the Philippines that I wasn’t aware of.

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by Chris Nelson on Mar 2, 2009 10:56 PM EST up reply actions

i dont think anyone knows him here..

maybe the hardcores, sure, but the filipino market? not at all..

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Mar 2, 2009 11:41 PM EST up reply actions

Nice Title.

Totally sucked me in, expecting something about some news that these guys were being cut or rumored to being cut!

I am really disappointed about Vera. When he first came on the scene, before his contract problems, that guy was very exciting and fun to watch. He was small for a heavyweight, but he seemed to have devastating enough striking that you could see him winning the belt, and he seemed small enough to be able to cut down and get the LHW belt too. At the time I thought it a real possibility that he might actually be able to hold both belts and be the first guy in the UFC to hold two at the same time. Then that contract dispute, tons of time off, the emergence of giants in the heavyweight class, a cut to LHW, and just lackluster performances every since. What a shame. I’m still puzzled about why he’s been so bad as a LHW, frankly.

I like Grove on TUF, but have generally never really cared about seeing him in a fight since.

I’d hate to see Vera go, just because of the potential that used to be there. Still kind of hopeful he can get it back somehow.

by Kierkegaard on Mar 2, 2009 11:53 AM EST reply actions

Vera hasn’t been the same since the contract negotations and subsequent time off. Has been a different fighter. More tentative, less confident. Very strange.

by Bigperm on Mar 2, 2009 12:17 PM EST reply actions

i don’t like either guy. is there a way they can BOTH be cut from the UFC?

by bobthewriter on Mar 2, 2009 12:27 PM EST reply actions

If they both lose

They should not be losing to either Day or Patt.

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by achengy on Mar 2, 2009 7:34 PM EST up reply actions

Even if Vera somehow found a way to lose this, he would not get cut solely based on what he brings to the table in terms of TV interest in the Phillipines. Grove, on the other hand, is expendable.

by smoogy on Mar 2, 2009 12:45 PM EST reply actions

he would have lost 4/5 fights. I doubt they would keep him with his contract even with phillapines on the table.

That being said, I don’t expect he will lose this fight.

by Bigperm on Mar 2, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

Wasn’t the big rumor before the Grove/Tanner fight that Grove was on the verge of getting released?

by who me on Mar 2, 2009 12:51 PM EST up reply actions

Nover’s presence in the UFC means Vera is very much expendable. Particularly if the Philippines is tuning in to watch Vera put on another boring performance, he could turn into a liability for the UFC in the market and tarnish the image of the sport as a whole.

by George Lucas on Mar 3, 2009 12:41 AM EST up reply actions

nover isnt as big as vera yet in terms of popularity..

Maybe if Nover gets a few big wins then he can take Vera’s place.. But as of now, vera is still, by far, the most popular filipino MMA fighter..

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Mar 3, 2009 1:49 AM EST up reply actions

Brandon Vera out with a lost

Brandon Vera has fought with no pass since dropping to 205.He hasn’t been happy about his contract and feels he’s main event talent.I wouldn’t miss him if he’s let go.

by TERRENCEFROMSOUTHEAST on Mar 7, 2009 6:25 PM EST reply actions