The Doggy Bag: Shame and Fame Edition
Second Chances for Octagon Dances
Seeing Patrick Cote win this weekend, along with Ronys Torres’ big run since getting cut from the UFC, got me thinking about what fighters are overdue for a UFC return. Cote would never fight for a title again, but I think he could still hang at 185 pounds, while Torres got cut after losing to Melvin Guillard and Jacob Volkmann. Do you think Cote and Torres should get called up again? Are there any other fighters putting streaks together who deserve another UFC chance? -- Alan from Seoul
Brian Knapp, features editor: Of the two fighters you referenced, one has to think Torres is closer to a return to the UFC. The Nova Uniao product is seven years younger than Cote and has compiled a 10-1 mark since being cut loose. Torres would be on my short list of viable replacements should an injury arise in the UFC’s lightweight division over the next month or two. He certainly boosted his stock on Saturday, when he stopped Bellator Fighting Championships veteran Ferrid Kheder in 22 seconds under the Amazon Forest Combat banner in Brazil.
Cote’s case is a bit harder to make. The UFC obviously likes what he brings to the table, but, at 32, and with some serious knee surgeries in the rearview mirror, he has a lot more mileage on him. Plus, he has not had what anyone would consider a meaningful win since 2008. Victories over Kalib Starnes, Todd Brown, Crafton Wallace and Gustavo Machado do not exactly move the needle. The lack of depth that exists in the middleweight division will always work in his favor, but, for now, he likely needs to string a few more wins together to get another sniff.
Plenty of other UFC alums have put together streaks warranting another look, several of them in sister promotion Strikeforce. Jason High, for instance, has rattled off six consecutive wins since his one-and-done outing against Charlie Brenneman at UFC Fight Night 21. At 30, the 2009 Dream welterweight grand prix finalist deserves another chance to shine on center stage, especially when one considers how well Brenneman has performed since.
Others making a push at a UFC return: Thales Leites (6-1 since his release), “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 finalist Vinny Magalhaes (7-1 since his release), Jake Rosholt (6-1 since his release) and Gerald Harris (3-1 since his release). There is no shortage of qualified talent operating outside the Zuffa LLC family.
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