Joe "Hybrid" Duarte, a native of Guam who competed on the upcoming eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter, has signed with Colloseo Championship Fighting in Canada, affiliated with the Sinister clothing brand and Century Casino. What does this mean? Well, for one, it seems to mean he didn't win the competition, otherwise he wouldn't be a free agent. Two, it seems to mean he is out of the UFC altogether. So he isn't going to fight on the Finale card. Three, it seems to mean he has not only lost the competition, but done poorly enough, or been enough of a headache that the UFC doesn't want to deal with him anymore. And four, he most likely isn't the guy Dana White said could be the lightweight Anderson Silva. This is all according to a report on Cage Potato via TKO Extreme. Sounds like bad news for Guam's MMA scene (sorry Trench!).
What?!? Joe didn't even make the house? Man it sucks being in the desert...I couldn't even watch the season opener...damn it!!! I'm still a supporter of Duarte, but is all that article just speculation? I wouldn't consider it out of the realm that maybe it's not that he did bad, but maybe with the hype of the Dana White talk, he left the show to cash in early while his skillet was still hot. After all not to compair UFC 8 to other reality competition shows like American Idol, but in Idol...if they don't make it into one of the finalist positions they are free to get a contract anywhere they choose instead of getting the pre-existing (waiting) contract give to the winner. Which makes you think someone could write thier own ticket instead of taking what was given to them.
If he's good it makes you wonder why they'd pair him up with another good fighter right away. Why not put them against weaker opponents and get them both into the house?
the speculation was whether he was the one Dana was raving about. It appears he was not that guy. That blond haired guy that was really cocky "The difference between me and the others.. I know how to fight" may be the guy Dana loves.
From first episode alone, I would agree, it's either the Blonde guy or the one that beat Duarte would be the ones he is raving about. Both put on good showings, I think they are the obvious front runners for winning this competition in the lightweight right now. Obviously we haven't seen the other 8 guys fight, so we don't know how they are, but these two stood out this show the most in my opinion.
Well the way Dana talked about the blonde haired guy, it seems like he was somewhat impressed with him b/c of the way he asked Dana what way to sub a guy, and did it. But I mean in his fight he did well, but I wasn`t overly impressed or anything.
I'm hoping we can see the rest of the fight somehow. They cut out alot of time and it really looked like Joe was dominated in that matchup. That dude Philippe is a beast and I wouldn't be surprised if he wont the entire show! Guess they wont be teasing him about his fainting any longer.
