UFC
UFC NEWS: Gerald Harris released from UFC following UFC 123 loss to Maiquel Falcao
Nov 23, 2010 - 10:41:01 PM UFC NEWS: Gerald Harris released from UFC following UFC 123 loss to Maiquel Falcao

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Gerald Harris has been cut from the UFC following his loss to Maiquel Falcao at UFC 123 last Saturday, according to multiple published reports.

Harris, who was 3-0 in the UFC heading into Saturday's event in Auburn Hills, Mich., drew the ire of the crowd, and clearly the UFC, with his performance in the third round. Heading into the round behind on the scorecards, Harris showed no desperation, and both he and Falcao failed to do much of anything in the round. The crowd booed heavily, and Falcao took the unanimous decision victory.

But things could have turned out differently had the Michigan commission appointed timekeeper done their job. With the first round ending near seven seconds early, while Falcao had a rear naked choke locked in, the fight may have not gotten to the second round, let alone the third.

Penick's Analysis: There's a part of me that understands the move, and the UFC's reasoning for sending a message with this cut, but at the same time I think it was premature. He won his three previous fights by TKO, and had come off a huge slam over Dave Branch that was plastered all over ESPN in July. He didn't do himself any favors with that third round, and that's why he was cut. It has to sting more with the fact that, had he just tapped or been choked out by that submission in the first round - which could have happened had it gone the full five minutes - he'd still have a job in the UFC.