Kalib Starnes Requests Release from UFC

This news doesn't come as a big shocker but the way it played out does. After Kalib Starnes performance at UFC 83 we were certain that he wouldn't be fighting in the UFC anymore, however it was his decision, not management, to no longer compete for the UFC.

In a UFC 83 televised bout, Starnes continually backpeddled from his opponent, and the Canadian crowd turned on the British Columbia fighter during the lackluster performance.

In a post-event press conference, White said that Starnes would regret the performance, which resulted in scores of 30-27, 30-26 and an extremely rare 30-24. After the fight, cameras caught Starnes yelling an obscenity and a deragoratory gay reference to members of Quarry's corner.

The following day, White told Yahoo! Sports that Starnes had been cut from the organization.

However, Starnes said that the story came out only after he asked Joe Silva to terminate his contract, which the organization was willing to do.

Starnes also questioned White's integrity.

"In my opinion, it was inappropriate to make public statements regarding my character and my future and so on the way that he has, especially without having the courage and the respect to call me up and speak with me personally," Starnes told The Fight Network. "All of these comments come from a man that has never had a fight in his entire life who claims to be the ultimate authority on fighting and courage. I couldn't be happier than to be released from the most oppressive contract I've ever been under in my life."

Starnes also told The Fight Network that he broke his foot early in the fight, which prompted his hesitation to engage with Quarry.

You almost have to believe Starnes in this situation. As poor of a performance it was, his previous fights showed he has talent and definitely comes to fight. He beat Chris Leben, was beating Alan Belcher when a cut forced an early stoppage. His only blemish was when he cracked a rib fighting Kendell Grove during TUF 3 and had to quit.

His fight with Nate Quarry shouldn't be an indication of how he performs and he should get picked up by another organization fairly quickly, however he will certainly have to prove himself again no matter who signs him. He also will forever have the dubious distinction to lose 30-24 in a fight. Usually when someone is dominated like that the fight is stopped but he ran so much that Quarry could never catch him.

On a side note, Kalib Starnes has already been erased from the UFC's website. Talk about pissing off the boss. Ken Shamrock and Randy Couture are still on the website and are both locked in bitter lawsuits against the UFC. It looks like Dana White is going to make an example of Kalib Starnes.