A 'sad' Junior Assuncao waiting to know why he was released

by Guilherme Cruz | source: tatame.com

Junior Assuncao fought his way into the UFC with straight straight wins, and won his debut against Eddie Yagin. Then he lost a unanimous decision to Ross Pearson at the UFC 141 New Years show, and was released.

"I have no hard feelings towards the UFC,” Assuncao said, adding“All the big events have called me, but I’ll wait until I know exactly why UFC cut me off."

Guilherme Cruz: Do you know why you’ve been fired from the UFC?

Junior Assuncao: Until this moment I don’t really know what happened. I guess they didn’t like my last performance, maybe they expected more from the… I’m lost. Only my manager talked to them.

GC: And what did they say to your manager?

JA: According to my manager, UFC said there’re 15 extra fighters in my division and that it would take seven months for them to offer me a fight, and then they cut me off. I haven’t received a formal letter saying I’m dismissed, it was just my manager who told me that. I don’t know if there’s something behind it.

GC: Were you upset about it?

JA: I’m still kinda sad, it’s hard to say. It was the first time I loss in almost four years, and it’s weird they fired me right after it. Until I really get what happened, I have no hard feelings towards the UFC.

GC: You focused on starting it all over in the UFC. So, what comes next?

JA: I’ll keep on going. Independently of this, I’ll still fight for five more years. If I return to the UFC, great. If not, I open the door the other events.

GC: Did people from other events tried to contact you?

JA: All the big events have called me, but I’ll wait until I know exactly why UFC cut me off, I want to know what happened.

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2/11/12 9:17 PM by Chris Power

I thought it was a decent fight, and I didn't really find him particularly boring. I think the beef came from the UG post where he seemed unwilling to meet in the middle on the fact he lost despite virtually everybody acknowledging that he did. I don't think Zuffa enjoys guys fishing for the fans to stir the pot for them. For some guys that doesn't matter, guys that are bringing buys, but for a mid-to-low-card guy like Junior? I don't think they felt the juice was worth the squeeze if he was going to start causing a stink over a fight decision pretty much everybody agreed was correctly called. Not saying it was a just cut, just providing the rationale that they probably went by.

2/11/12 9:12 PM by Megatherium

And to think he sort of set the blueprint for Condit's win over Diaz.In view of that, the cut does seem incongruous.

2/11/12 6:52 PM by shiznit

its a power thang...

2/11/12 2:56 PM by CindyO

Nope. Not even close. Cindy

2/11/12 2:45 PM by Tangerine Dream

straight vicious.Tore him to pieces.

2/11/12 2:01 PM by MMAxNate

His attitude in the cage from his first fight left me sour. He may have talent and all that nice guy stuff. In the cage, the dude came off like a douche, no disrespect. But I didn't care one bit about his bout with Pearson because of his behavior in his previous fight. Did not even bother watching the match with Pearson.

2/11/12 1:24 PM by Jacinto

Man he needs to quit crying, never heard a fighter pitch such a bitch after he got cut. It certainly isn't going to help his chances of ever getting back into the UFC by any means.

2/11/12 1:24 PM by Jacinto

Man he needs to quit crying, never heard a fighter pitch such a bitch after he got cut. It certainly isn't going to help his chances of ever getting back into the UFC by any means.

2/11/12 10:16 AM by hcbbjj

Junior is a solid guy and great fighter and shouldn't have been cut in my opinion. Thats all I'm gonna say.

2/11/12 10:14 AM by DeuceDroppin

I don't have a problem with them cutting him, but rather how they did it. At least show the guy some respect. Whether it's your job, a relationship, or whatever, it sucks to not have any reason or closure. At least show him enough respect to give him that, and let him know what "in your eyes" he needs to do to start working his way back.

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