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 162: Roger Gracie
MMA Record: 15-4 (0-0 UFC record)
Why he could get cut: Tim Kennedy put himself in UFC president Dana White’s doghouse in the days leading up to UFC 162 because of his comments about fighter pay. Although Kennedy did apologize for what he said, you know that the UFC brass wasn’t happy at all that Kennedy made their company look bad, and they’ll probably look for the first opportunity they can to cut him.
The first opportunity the UFC will get to release Kennedy is if he loses to Gracie this weekend. Even though that would be only be one loss in the UFC, that’s probably enough to get him cut, so Kennedy absolutely needs to win this weekend to ensure his future employment with Zuffa (that is, if he even wants a job with them, because he sure didn’t sound like he did).
Opponent at UFC 162: Gabriel Gonzaga
MMA Record: 21-5 (1-3 UFC)
Why he could get cut: Dave Herman has the double-whammy of coming off a drug suspension and coming off of three straight losses going against him, which is why I believe there’s really no doubt that he’s in a must-win situation against Gabriel Gonzaga this weekend.
Although Herman is a talented fighter, he has been extremely poor since making his way over to the UFC, and if he doesn’t beat Gonzaga, who is completely over the hill, there’s no reason for the UFC to keep him around anymore, especially with all of his issues outside of the cage.
Opponent at UFC 162: Edson Barboza
MMA Record: 15-5 (2-4 UFC)
Why he could get cut: I feel bad for Rafaello Oliveira because he took this fight against Edson Barboza on short notice, and realistically, it’s a fight he’s going to have a very difficult time of coming out of victorious. This is because he’s going to have a hard time getting Barboza to the floor, and if the fight stays standing, he’s probably going to get knocked out.
With a poor 2-4 record in the UFC, and with a potential 2-5 mark looming with a loss to Barboza, Oliveira needs to pull off a giant upset to keep his job with the UFC, or, at least, put on a “Fight of the Night”-type performance. Otherwise, he’s gone.
Opponent at UFC 162: Seth Baczynski
MMA Record: 6-2 (0-0 UFC)
Why he could get cut: Brian Melancon hasn’t fought in almost two years since a stint in Strikeforce, and I was very surprised that the UFC ended up giving him a fight because I thought he was all but retired from the sport.
I’m guessing the UFC had to honor Melancon’s Strikeforce contract since he is coming off a win, but in a stacked UFC welterweight division, the only way to ensure your employment is to win, and so Melancon needs to beat Baczynski this weekend to make sure he stays in the UFC.
Opponent at UFC 162: David Mitchell
MMA Record: 16-5 (8-3 UFC)
Why he could get cut: Mike Pierce is one of the best welterweights in the world but he has a very boring style, and let’s just say that the UFC wouldn’t be putting him on the first fight of the night on Facebook – and below the guy he just beat in the bout order – if they wanted to keep this guy around.
I wrote an article about Pierce last week, but to summarize briefly here, Pierce needs to get a win this weekend to keep his spot in the UFC, and if he ever wants to make a run for the title, he needs to start finishing opponents.
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UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman is due to take place on July 6, 2013 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC 162 will be.
