The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was back in Saitama, Japan for the fifth time in promotional history with UFC Fight Night 117: St. Preux vs. Okami. It was a sold night of action that saw four of 10 bouts end inside the distance, and with the scraps now in our rear view, let’s take a look at which of the evening’s competitors we may no longer see going to work inside the Octagon…
ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK
Takanori Gomi
The Japanese veteran has now suffered five straight defeats inside the Octagon, with all five of them coming by way of finish inside the very first round of action. He is now 4-9 in the UFC and I believe he will undoubtedly be receiving his walking papers from the promotion following Friday night’s first round TKO loss at the hands of “Maestro” Dong Hyun Kim. I would not be shocked to see Gomi pop up in Bellator for another paycheck, but I hope he opts to hang up the gloves and call it a career. In any case, I am confident we have seen the last of “The Fireball Kid” inside the Octagon.
Henrique da Silva
The Brazilian has now dropped four consecutive bouts inside the Octagon, having been finished in three of them. Following his first round knockout loss at the hands of promotional newcomer Gokhan Saki this past weekend, I think it is fair to say that we have seen the last of da Silva in the UFC. I expected him to get released following his first round knockout to Ion Cutelaba, but the promotion needed an opponent who made sense for Saki in his debut bout. It was a fight he could have won but he came up short, and unfortunately for him, I think he will shortly be receiving his pink slip from the UFC.
Hyun Gyu Lim
Lim dropped a controversial unanimous decision to promotional newcomer Daichi Abe and is currently on a three fight losing skid in the UFC, including a first round knockout against Mike Perry and a second round TKO to Neil Magny, and he is now 1-4 in his last five outings inside the Octagon. I think it is more than likely that Lim will be receiving his walking papers from the promotion, though it would not surprise me to see him back, especially on another card in Asia. If they will bring back Henrique da Silva after three losses, I don’t see it being impossible for Lim.
