Three Fighters Who Deserve UFC Redemption
“You’re only as good as your last success.” Such words can be applied to just about anything in life, especially Mixed Martial Arts. The ultimate goal for most, if not all, aspiring MMA fighters is to earn a spot on the grandest stage of them all, The UFC. However, making the UFC roster does not guarantee you will stay there forever. When it comes to the fight game, if you don’t win you could find yourself in the unemployment line.
In most cases, losing two or three fights in a row will get you cut from the UFC and send you packing to the “minor leagues”. However, do enough to impress The Powers That Be and you could very well earn another shot in The Octagon. The following is a short list of fighters who were cut from the UFC more than a year ago and have been working on getting another shot, but have yet to get that phone call from Dana White & CO.…
Patrick “The Predator” Cote (16-7) Age 32
After going 0-3 in his first stint in the UFC, Cote was selected to be a part of TUF 4: The Comeback. Although he lost in the finals to Travis Lutter, he was given another UFC contract and another shot at glory. He strung together a nice four-fight win streak, including two Knockout of the Night bonuses, and was given a shot at the Middleweight Championship. Not only did he lose that bout, but he suffered an injury that required him to have surgery and sit out for a year and a half. Following the surgery, he lost his next two fights and was given his walking papers in October 2010. In 2011, Cote went 3-0, won the Ringside MMA Middleweight Championship and started his subtle campaign to get back into the UFC. Having turned his career around, Cote is picking up steam and his fans would love to see him back in the UFC soon.
Vinny “Pezao” Magalhaes(9-5-1) Age 27
Before jumping into MMA, Vinny made a name for himself in the grappling world. With a 2-2 (1) record, Vinny was selected to be part of the TUF 8 cast. After defeating all three of his opponents in the first round, he was set to face Ryan Bader in the Finale for his toughest opponent to date. He was defeated by Bader via TKO in the first round and was criticized for his lack of standup skills. His next bout, a unanimous decision loss to TUF 8 castmate Eliot Marshall, was enough to have him cut from the UFC roster in 2009. Since that time, Vinny has compiled a 7-1 record (all seven victories by way of stoppage), won and defended the M-1 Global Light Heavyweight Championship and started campaigning via Twitter for his return to the UFC. Between his public displeasure with M-1 management and his current contract expiring, Vinny is more ready than ever to get his second shot inside The Octagon.
John “The Natural” Alessio (34-17) Age 32
At thirty-two years old, John Alessio may be one of the most experienced, unknown fighters in the sport. Unlike the previous two fighters, Alessio wasn’t part of any Ultimate Fighter casts, but was instead thrown to the wolves, so to speak, in his UFC debut back in 2000. At just twenty years old, Alessio faced the much more experienced Pat Miletich for the UFC Welterweight Championship and was defeated via second-round armbar. In the days before TUF, the UFC contracts weren’t as exclusive as they are now so Alessio bounced around from promotion to promotion, picking up fights wherever they were available. In addition to competing in some of the biggest MMA promotions around the world, Alessio has won the Tachi Palace Fights Welterweight Championship, taken part in the United Glory Welterweight tournament, and recently dropped to Lightweight. Having won ten out of his last eleven fights, and shown his skill set against numerous mid-tier fighters, he is now ready to take a step back up to the top-level of competition. Just as the others have done, Alessio has taken his “Return to UFC” campaign to Twitter in hopes of getting that life-changing phone call.
What do you think? Vote below for who you think deserves another shot in the UFC
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About the Author (Author Profile)
Aspiring chef turned MMA writer after financial issues prevented me from pursuing my first dream. Ever since I started watching MMA, I've read up about it and talk about it all the time and with the encouragement of family and friends I finally decided to actively pursue a career in writing about it.Subscribe
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