"The Ultimate Fighter 6" quarterfinalist and one-time UFC welterweight contender Ben Saunders (8-3-2 MMA, 4-3 UFC) received his UFC walking papers.
The 27-year-old fighter announced the news via Twitter.
Although once of the UFC's fastest-rising and most-exciting 170-pound prospects, Saunders recently suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Dennis Hallman for his third defeat in four fights.
Saunders vows to fight his way back to the organization.
"The UFC has officially cut me," he wrote. "The good news is they told me to work on my wrestling and ground game and then come back. So that is all I am going to be doing: improving dramatically and [showing] them I belong."
After a solid showing on "TUF 6" in which he displayed his impressive reach, strength and expertise from the clinch, the longtime Jeet Kune Do student and Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt picked up consecutive wins over Dan Barrera, Ryan Thomas and Brandon Wolff to extend his undefeated streak to nine fights.
However, a loss to fellow contender Mike Swick at UFC 99 started a rough stretch for Saunders. Although he rebounded for a swift KO victory (via flying knee) over Marcus Davis, Saunders then fell short against wrestlers and ground specialists Jon Fitch (UFC 111) and Hallman (UFC 117) to force the release.
"To all my fans, I thank you all and [promise] no matter where I go or who I fight, I will be making the biggest and loudest noise I can letting it be known I am still here working harder than ever and will never give up," Hallman wrote. "I will prove my worth and make my return to the UFC."
http://www.mmaanalysed.com/index.php?op ... c&Itemid=2
