Tony
10-02-2009, 11:13
Octagon veterans Rich Clementi and Luigi Fioravanti have been released from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), following their most recent losses at UFC Fight Night 17: “Lauzon vs. Stephens” at the University of South Florida (USF) Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 7, according to FiveOuncesOfPain.com (http://www.fiveouncesofpain.com/).
“No Love” is perhaps the biggest surprise — he was on a six-fight win streak before losing back-to-back bouts. Two of those six matches, however, were for other promotions. Even still, he was a 10-fight UFC veteran and former contestant on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 4.
This is actually the third time the Louisiana native has parted ways with the organization, which is perhaps the silver lining when all is said and done. He is talented and experienced enough to make another return. And he is known for taking fights on short notice when called upon.
Clementi racked up notable wins against nemesis Melvin Guillard, Sam Stout and Anthony Johnson, among others, in his most recent stint with the promotion. Gray Maynard, Roan Carneiro and, most recently Gleison Tibau, are the key losses during that same span.
Luigi Fioravanti — a former middleweight who made the trip south to 170 pounds — was taken out by Johnson in the first round at UFC Fight Night 17. He was looking to string together two straight victories after outpointing Brodie Farber at UFC Fight Night 16: “Fight for the Troops” back in December.
Unfortunately for him, it didn’t happen.
The heavy-handed American Top Team (ATT)-trained fighter split his last four appearances inside the Octagon, losing to Diego Sanchez via technical knockout at TUF 7 Finale in June 2008 and besting Luke Cummo by decision earlier that same year.
Fioravanti, too, had previously been released from a UFC contract like Clementi back in June 2007.
Hopefully, the pair can keep busy outside the promotion and work their way back to the eight-sided cage. There’s also a certain promotion on the West Coast, Strikeforce, making big waves and is currently looking to hire.
Either way, best of luck to both of them moving forward.
“No Love” is perhaps the biggest surprise — he was on a six-fight win streak before losing back-to-back bouts. Two of those six matches, however, were for other promotions. Even still, he was a 10-fight UFC veteran and former contestant on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 4.
This is actually the third time the Louisiana native has parted ways with the organization, which is perhaps the silver lining when all is said and done. He is talented and experienced enough to make another return. And he is known for taking fights on short notice when called upon.
Clementi racked up notable wins against nemesis Melvin Guillard, Sam Stout and Anthony Johnson, among others, in his most recent stint with the promotion. Gray Maynard, Roan Carneiro and, most recently Gleison Tibau, are the key losses during that same span.
Luigi Fioravanti — a former middleweight who made the trip south to 170 pounds — was taken out by Johnson in the first round at UFC Fight Night 17. He was looking to string together two straight victories after outpointing Brodie Farber at UFC Fight Night 16: “Fight for the Troops” back in December.
Unfortunately for him, it didn’t happen.
The heavy-handed American Top Team (ATT)-trained fighter split his last four appearances inside the Octagon, losing to Diego Sanchez via technical knockout at TUF 7 Finale in June 2008 and besting Luke Cummo by decision earlier that same year.
Fioravanti, too, had previously been released from a UFC contract like Clementi back in June 2007.
Hopefully, the pair can keep busy outside the promotion and work their way back to the eight-sided cage. There’s also a certain promotion on the West Coast, Strikeforce, making big waves and is currently looking to hire.
Either way, best of luck to both of them moving forward.