Pink Slip Saturdays is a new addition to MMARatings.net,
where Adam will write about five fighters on each card who could literally be
fighting for their job, given UFC president Dana White’s recent comments about cutting
100 fighters from the roster.
Opponent at UFC on FUEL TV 9: Matt Mitrione
MMA Record: 9-2, 1 NC (2-2 UFC)
Why He Could Be Cut: Coming off of a brutal KO at the hands of Todd Duffee at UFC 155, it’s surprising that Phil De Fries is getting a main card slot here at UFC on FUEL TV 9. While the big Brit is definitely a skilled submission fighter, his chin seems shaky to say the least (he’s been knocked out in both of his UFC losses) and it’s strange that the UFC decided to promote him to the main card despite his lack of success inside the Octagon.
De Fries has a tough test on Saturday against TUF alum Matt Mitrione. Mitrione hits just as hard as Duffee does, and if he can connect on De Fries’ chin, it’ll be night-night for De Fries, and he’ll likely be waking up to a pink slip from UFC matchmaker Joe Silva. This is definitely a must-win fight for him.
Opponent at UFC on FUEL TV 9: Robbie Peralta
MMA Record: 10-3, 1 NC (1-0)
Why He Could Be Cut: Akira Corassani picked up one of the luckiest decisions of 2012 when he sneaked by Andy Ogle at UFC on FUEL TV 5 in a fight that he deserved to lose. The UFC has somehow rewarded him by putting him on the first fight of the main card for UFC on FUEL TV 9, but they are giving him a very tough opponent in the rising Robbie Peralta.
Considering Ogle knocked down Corassani twice in their fight, and knowing Peralta hits way harder, there doesn’t seem to be much room for optimism here for Corassani. He needs to win this fight to keep his job with the UFC, because he’s been super injury prone since TUF 12, and having your only win in the Octagon come via controversial decision is never a good sign.
Opponent at UFC on FUEL TV 9: Reza Madadi
MMA Record: 12-7 (4-3 UFC)
Why He Could Be Cut: It may seem strange to have Michael Johnson on this list after his solid 3-1 campaign in 2012, but the truth is Johnson was beating guys in the lower half of the lightweight division before getting dominated by Myles Jury at UFC 155, in a fight that really exposed his ceiling as an MMA fighter.
Johnson has improved since TUF 12 and still some potential in the game, but you have to win to keep your spot in the UFC, and Johnson will have a 4-4 record in the Octagon if he loses to Madadi on Saturday. And that might not be good enough to ensure his employment in the UFC when he fights in the promotion’s deepest division at a time when they are cutting fighters.
Opponent at UFC on FUEL TV 9: Tor Troeng
MMA Record: 4-0 (0-0 UFC)
Why He Could Be Cut: Adam Cella is best known for being the victim of Uriah Hall’s incredible spinning hook kick KO on “The Ultimate Fighter.” Although Cella seems like a good guy and a hard worker, the fact of the matter is the UFC can’t risk having someone get seriously injured in the Octagon, and coming off that brutal KO loss, Cella is lucky he’s getting one more chance with the UFC.
This is an absolute must-win fight for Cella if he wants to stay in the big show. If not, he’ll have hit the regional circuit and earn his way back, but I think it’s more likely he gets picked up by a promotion like Bellator, who can bury him on their prelims while he develops.
Opponent at UFC on FUEL TV 9: Besam Yousef
MMA Record: 8-2 (0-2 UFC)
Why He Could Be Cut: In both of Papy Abedi’s losses in the UFC so far, the story has been the same: Start off strong with striking, then get taken down and submitted. Having not competed in a calendar year, this will be Abedi’s make-or-break fight in the Octagon, and he has to win here to keep his job.
When you’re penciled in for the first Facebook fight of the night, that can never be a good thing. Look for Abedi to try and score the early KO against Yousef but if he can’t do that, it’s likely he’ll be submitted for the third-straight fight, and cut from the UFC right after.
UFC on FUEL TV 9: Mousasi vs. Latifi is due to take place on April 6, 2013 at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC on FUEL TV 9 will be.
I dont know who any of those people are.
I remember Abedi's name for the longest,
but since I dont really know who he is either I'm assuming he's never been very good.