SPORTSNET.CA
Canadian Jason (The Athlete) MacDonald's loss to Nate Quarry at UFC 97 in Montreal was crushing in more ways than one. The mixed martial arts fighter from Red Deer, Alta., was released by the UFC over the weekend.
MacDonald told Sportsnet he got the news he'd been cut in the form of an email letter. His fight at the Bell Centre on April 18 was his second on a four-fight deal he signed in September. UFC contracts are not guaranteed.
He fought 10 times in the organization's middleweight division, going 5-5. But he fell in his past two by first-round TKO, including the one-sided defeat to Quarry, who earned a first-round TKO when a barrage of elbows on the ground left MacDonald's forehead completely bloodied.
Following the loss, UFC president Dana White said the organization loves having guys like MacDonald (21-10), because he "puts on exciting fights" and is "always awesome." But apparently that wasn't enough, as the UFC has been trimming its roster heavily of late.
Prior to his most recent defeat, the 33-year-old dropped another quick one by TKO to Wilson Gouveia in December. MacDonald, who gained notoriety fighting for the Edmonton-based MFC, began his career in the Octagon with two straight wins over Ed Herman and Chris Leben in late 2006 before falling in a bout against Rich Franklin that would have earned him a title shot.
Watch MMA Connected this week as MacDonald discusses his release and more. He pulls double duty as this week's "Cage Connection" insider as well as the guest instructor in "Fight School," where he demonstrates the finer points of cinching a triangle choke on (Showdown) Joe.
