The job of a professional fighter is to step up and meet the challenges laid at his door. For Gary "Smiler" Turner -- one of the United Kingdom's hardest hitting heavyweights -- this means accepting near-Herculean tasks as he strives to prove himself in the ranks of professional MMA.

This determination to face the best fighters was recently proven when Turner agreed to fight monstrous contender Antonio Silva at the Feb. 16 EliteXC event on merely one month's notice.

"I've got a funny psychology," Turner said. "In my head, I've got an opponent and I basically make out that I'm going to be hurt seriously badly, but there's no way that I'm not going to step inside that ring."

Instead of allowing the potentially damaging consequences of a fight to dampen his enthusiasm, the former K-1 fighter turns this healthy concern into fighting spirit.

"I'm going to do all the preparation and work to ensure that if I go down fighting, I go down giving the best show that I possibly can," Turner explained. "The best effort that I can as a person."

With the matchup against Silva announced on the Internet, Turner and his team threw themselves headlong into preparation for what would be his biggest opportunity -- and undoubtedly his sternest test -- in mixed martial arts.

However, one week later, Turner's chances of appearing on the Showtime-televised EliteXC card would evaporate as quickly as they had materialized.

"It was very frustrating for me," Turner said. "Basically, we were negotiating a multi-fight contract. There were a few clauses which needed adjustment, minor points left to be decided upon basically. But the main gist of it was fully agreed, and we were of full acceptance of the final agreed offer to fight Antonio Silva."

Though the fight was not signed when originally announced, Turner contacted the Florida State Boxing Commission to iron out a licensing problem concerning his eyesight, which had previously led to him being refused permission to fight in Nevada.

"I'm quite shortsighted," Turner said. "So I couldn't fight in Nevada. However, in 2006 I was licensed in Ohio and also twice in Florida."

After providing the results of his most recent eye tests to the Florida authorities, Turner informed Sherdog.com that he met the necessary medical requirements to be granted a license and erased what he viewed as the most significant sticking point over the contract negotiations with his potential employers.

The following day, however, news broke that former UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez (Pictures) would be replacing him on the card, much to Turner's consternation.

"I woke up to a phone message from another promoter and a couple of e-mails, saying, ‘Is it true your fight is off?' I then look on the Internet and find that they've released on ProElite.com the press release that I'm not fighting anymore and that I've been replaced.

"I was very, very angry to say the least. As a professional fighter, when you commit to something, you actually commit to it fully. And ignoring the financial sacrifices, it's the personal sacrifices as well."

Turner then made the unprecedented -- and potentially ill-advised -- decision of releasing a statement on the Internet that explained his take on the situation and criticized EliteXC.

"I have been knocked by various people for putting it online, but I thought -- me the person and the person that people see is one and the same. It's based on being sporting, open and honest. Therefore, I thought the best way forward was to be open and honest. That's what I've done with that."

Although upset by the turn of events, the U.K. fighter remains open to discussion with EliteXC and has repeatedly stated that until all the facts behind the decision are made public, he will refrain from making any comments that may further strain his relationship with the company.

Turner also said that he has had some contact via e-mail with an EliteXC employee since the situation arose. He confirmed, though, that he is yet to receive a substantive reply to the points raised in his open letter.

A representative for EliteXC told Sherdog.com at the Jan. 25 ShoXC event in Atlantic City, N.J., that the promoter planned on releasing a statement on the situation with Turner, however that has failed to materialize.

"All I know is what has happened from my end, and I'm awaiting answers," Turner said. "I wouldn't want to slate anyone or the organization for it -- I just want the answers. It's very frustrating, but at the same time, I know there's two sides to every story. Therefore, before I knock anybody, it's the information that I would want."

Turner reflected on the potential damage that taking the bold step of writing a letter might have had, then added with a genuine tone of respect that he wanted to work with EliteXC again.

"I do think that they are a great organization," he said, "with great promotions and would like to work with them again in the future."

At this point, with his fight against Silva scrapped, Turner is now focused on his upcoming clash with London Shootfighter Mustapha al Turk (Pictures) at Cage Rage 25 on March 8.

Said Turner with a chuckle: "Unfortunately for Mus, what it's meant is, I've got into heavy training to fight someone. … The skills that were to be used against Antonio will be used against Mus. I've basically started my opponent-specific training one hell of a lot earlier, unfortunately for Mus!"