Kalib Starnes Explains Fight and UFC Contract Issues

[I Heart Gambling Online]

Canadian fighter Kalib Starnes (8-3-1) says a broken foot is responsible for the bizarre three-round decision he lost to Nate Quarry (10-2) at UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre 2 on April 19 in Montreal, Canada.

"I have a broken foot I sustained with the first kick I threw in the fight," Starnes tells The Fight Network. "After I knew my foot was broken, I was trying to back up and work off the jab and keep moving so I didn't get knocked out."

Starnes spent all three rounds backing away from Quarry and lost by unanimous judges' decision. He was subsequently cut from his UFC contract, but says he requested to be released before hearing the news.

"[UFC matchmaker] Joe Silva told me that it usually takes a couple of days for their legal department to complete the paperwork and that he would send me all of the paperwork to indicate that my contract has been dissolved," Starnes says. "Later on in the afternoon, a story was released by some reporter in which Dana White said that he had released me from my contract. I received no documentation on that, and it came after I asked to be released."

In the report, White says Starnes "just doesn't belong in the UFC, and after his performance the other night, he should consider a new line of work."

Always the fighter, the native of Surrey, Canada, is responding to the attack. "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," he says, adding "I couldn't be happier than to be released from the most oppressive contract I've ever been under in my life."

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