There are three notable absentees in the new UFC rankings update and fans are getting worried.
While Kamari Usmanov, Albert Tumenov and Jared Cannonier will be delighted to have cracked the top 15 of their respective divisions, they’ll know their entries came as a result of the removal of three prominent fighters.
In the new update, number six-ranked Lorenz Larkin as well as Rick Story disappeared from the welterweight standings, while rising light heavyweight Misha Cirkunov was also taken out of the top 15.
Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie broke the news on Twitter, adding that the three fighters’ contracts had run out.
Misha Cirkunov, Lorenz Larkin & Rick Story have been removed from latest UFC rankings. I'm told none are currently under UFC contract.
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) February 2, 2017
19-fight UFC veteran Story has notable wins over former champion Johny Hendricks, former Strikeforce king Tarec Saffiiedine, one-time title challenger Thiago Alves and he’s credited with handing SBG’s Gunnar Nelson his first ever professional loss. He fell victim to Donald Cerrone’s lethal combination in his last trip to the Octagon which marked the first time he had been finished by strikes in his career.
Larkin has just the solitary loss to Albert Tumenov in the UFC’s welterweight division, but is riding a two-fight win-streak, scoring wins over Jorge Masvidal and Neil Magny in his last two bouts. His removal didn’t come as much of a surprise as he had publicly stated his intention to test free agency, although it recently emerged that he couldn’t strike a deal with the UFC’s main rivals, Bellator.
The real head-scratcher among those three is Cirkunov. Here’s what next light heavyweight title challenger Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson had to say about the Canadian during a recent appearance on the MMA Hour.
“Besides DC, the one guy that has my attention is – what’s his name – Misha mishka? Yeah, that dude’s a beast. I like his style and he’s built like a brick house, you know what I mean? I think his ass is gangster.”
“I don’t think he’s close (to a title shot), but he’s definitely somebody you’ve got to watch out for… definitely somebody you’ve got to watch out for.”
Cirkinov has racked up eight straight wins, with four of those victories coming via submission or knockout inside the UFC’s Octagon. Considering the dearth of contenders in that weight class, the decision to lett his contract run out took a lot of people by surprise.
It is important to note that these fighters could potentially re-sign with the UFC, but they are currently not under contract with the promotion.
https://twitter.com/csmith_uk/status/827045967786549248
https://twitter.com/Think_MMA/status/827035082279968769
https://twitter.com/_AaronOBrien/status/826994391269199872
Seems bizarre UFC would risk losing an exciting, up-and-comer in Cirkunov given the dearth of talent and youth at 205. https://t.co/NfgdjFlKhJ
— J (@SlayKatzNY) February 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/DaveMMAdden/status/826997589979455488
https://twitter.com/MMA_Jim/status/827114097481306112
https://twitter.com/RyanThomasMMA/status/827074066305654784
pretty damn stupid of them if they let Misha Cirkunov and Lorenz Larkin go.
— jluis ⚉ (@mma21plus) February 2, 2017
Very surprised at Cirkunov not accepting the contract renewel. 4-0 in UFC with 4 finishes. Was a real threat at LHWhttps://t.co/4iudGYLT8d
— Stuart Rodger (@StuartRodgerMMA) February 2, 2017
It would be a monumental mistake to let Cirkunov walk with the lack of depth at 205. Lorenz Larkin also, he has become a contender at 170 https://t.co/EgLZghs3Zr
— Jeff (@fooMan10716) February 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/xcetera92/status/827161848143245312
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