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Former WEC lightweight champ Jamie Varner released by promotion | MMAjunkie.com

Former WEC lightweight champ Jamie Varner released by promotion
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Dec 28, 2010 at 3:10 pm ET

Two-time UFC veteran Jamie Varner (16-5-2 MMA, 4-3-1 WEC) will have to wait to make his triumphant return to the octagon.

Following a recent four-fight winless streak, the former WEC champion was released by Zuffa officials.

News of the roster move was first reported by PunchDrunkGamer.com, and MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) subsequently confirmed Varner's release with his management.

"I am ready for 2011," Varner told PunchDrunkGamer.com. "There will be some changes in my game.

"It has been a nice ride with the WEC, but it's time for a change. Perhaps UFC will be in my future down the road. ... We shall see."

Varner made his UFC debut in August 2006. The Arizona native suffered a submission loss to Hermes Franca at UFC 62 before bouncing back with an octagon win over Jason Gilliam at UFC 68 in March 2007.

From there, Varner took his talents to the WEC, where he went on a four-fight win streak and claimed the WEC's lightweight title with a February 2008 win over "Razor" Rob McCullough.

Varner went on to successfully defend the title twice, including a controversial January 2009 victory over rival Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone. Ahead on the cards in the fifth and final round of the WEC 38, Varner was tagged with an illegal knee on the ground and was declared unfit to continue. The stoppage resulted in a technical split-decision victory for Varner, though he was widely vilified by MMA fans following the bout.

The win was Varner's final victory in the WEC cage.

Varner saw his lightweight title wrapped around Ben Henderson's waist following a third-round submission loss this past January, and he returned in June in a split draw with Kamal Shalorus. Varner was then defeated by Cerrone via unanimous decision in a September rematch before being submitted by Shane Roller at December's WEC 53, the final event in the promotion's history.

[Sakara=Excitement]

Shocker.

[U shut ur FACE]

YAY!

[Bubbles]

Not shocked by this probably would of given another shot if WEC was still around but with the merger I saw him getting cut.

[beau420]

Although I am not a fan of Varner....I loved watching his fights hoping for him to get KOd...but he always performed exceptionally well. He is quick...very good standup (lacking a little power) good wrestling skills and decent ground game.

I commend him for his commitment to Arizona Combat Sports when all the big name fighters turned their back on the gym.

I am sure he will be back talking shit soon enough in another organization. I am looking forward to see where the plethora of 155ers go.

[MMA4EVERRR]

Originally Posted by beau420

I am sure he will be back talking shit soon enough in another organization. I am looking forward to see where the plethora of 155ers go.

Hopefully Bellator

StrikeFarce cant even give their own LW champ a fight, so I dont see how they can give the other 155ers..though I would love to see them in SF, as it will make the division a lot more interesting

[IceCold48]

this fucking sucks. he would give alvarez a better fight than huerta so i hope bellator picks him up.

i didnt want the merger because a lot of exciting fighters would be cut or delegated to preliminary fights. this and the hordeckhi fight are proof. i miss WEC

[KillahKimbo]

I always liked Varners fights, especially where he pretends to throw up in the Cerrone fight. It seems like his submission defense needs some work.

[HillbillyDeluxe]

I actually kinda thought they should of let all the WEC fighters have 1 fight to perform and audition in the UFC before they decided to give them their walking papers. Would of atleast gave them a chance to maybe make up for a previous loss or a few bad nights. Oh well, he'll probably be back at some point.

[IceCold48]

Originally Posted by HillbillyDeluxe

I actually kinda thought they should of let all the WEC fighters have 1 fight to perform and audition in the UFC before they decided to give them their walking papers. Would of atleast gave them a chance to maybe make up for a previous loss or a few bad nights. Oh well, he'll probably be back at some point.

yea they basically just said you lose your last fight your out regardless of any other factors. i mean dan downes and kamal shalarous being in the ufc over varner and horodecki is pretty rediculous.