http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=6708 <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Two-time UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia could announce his decision to leave the Las Vegas-based promotion as early as Friday, according to a source close to the situation. Sylvia, who has one fight remaining on his current contract with the UFC, submitted to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in a bout for the interim heavyweight championship at UFC 81 in February. The source indicated the Sylvia's exit was not yet a done deal. Sylvia’s departure could set the stage for a lucrative match with former Pride heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko later this year. Still widely regarded as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Emelianenko’s services are being sought by a number of potential suitors, including EliteXC. Sylvia (24-4) has won seven of his last nine fights – the lone defeats coming to Nogueira and Randy Couture, two of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Based out of the Miletich Fighting Systems camp in Bettendorf, Iowa, the gangly, 6-foot-8 Sylvia underwent back surgery following his unanimous decision loss to Couture at UFC 68 in March 2007. He made a successful return to the Octagon in October, as he handed Brandon Vera his first professional defeat at UFC 77. The 32-year-old Sylvia owns victories against former UFC heavyweight champions Andrei Arlovski (twice) and Ricco Rodriguez. He has also defeated the American Top Team’s Jeff Monson, Mike Whitehead (twice) and Ben Rothwell. Nineteen of his 24 career wins have come by knockout, technical knockout or submission.</div> Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, donkey.
Don't get me wrong--I recognize that Sylvia has accomplishments in the UFC. I'm not going to go Joe Rogan here and list off his knockouts but aside from a couple of controversies, he had a good career up to the second Arlovski fight. So, he didn't deserve to win that fight. I mean he did, but he lucked out. He was rocked by Arlovski and managed to hit a sneaky inside hook when AA went in for the kill. That moment was probably the highlight of his career so far but it was also the beginning of the end. After winning the title Sylvia forgot what it took to get it in the first place and put on truly terrible performances against Jeff Monson, Andrei Arlovski, Brandon Vera, and Randy Couture. I think it was Tim's quest for approval that led to his demise. He wanted/wants to be liked so badly that he used the belt as an excuse ("you have to love me, I'm the champ!"). He wasn't willing to part with it so he stopped taking chances. He fought safe and dug himself deeper as a result. It's too bad that in his fight against Minotauro, his best performance in a long time, it ended in a loss. Now he'll revert back to what he did before.
Now that Tim is leaving and Hughes is on his way out who is going to bore the piss out of me? Good riddance. This division is really thinning out again though.
On his webpage Sylvia's big announcement is that he is going turkey hunting. Seriously. But it also suggests people watch Inside MMA on HDNet to find out some news about him. Probably means he's announcing his departure from the UFC and signing with another promotion.
his head ain't right. man the UFC isn't doing much to acquire new talent of late and lots of good prospects are going elsewhere.. not sure what they're thinking unless they believe they're superior to all challengers.. eventually they're going to be wrong.