Following a performance on Saturday that drew merciless boos from the 21,390 fans inside Montreal's Bell Centre, Surry, B.C., native
Kalib Starnes (Pictures) is no longer fighting for the UFC.
Yahoo's Kevin Iole reported Monday that UFC President Dana White cut Starnes from his contract, however the middleweight told Sherdog.com that he asked for and received his release from the Las Vegas-based mixed martial arts promotional company.
Speaking from Florida, where he trains with American Top Team, the 33-year-old Starnes explained "that this morning I made a request to [UFC matchmaker] Joe Silva to be released from my contract. Joe agreed with my request."
Starnes said he was told by Silva it will take a few days for the paperwork to be completed, at which time the fighter will reveal more about his performance against
Nathan Quarry (Pictures) -- a back-pedalling, listless effort that saw him lose a lopsided decision by scores of 30-26, 30-27 and 30-24.
"He just doesn't belong in the UFC and after his performance the other night, he should consider a new line of work," the UFC President told Yahoo.
Saturday's fight was Starnes' fifth for the UFC. He joined the company as part of the third season of "The Ultimate Fighter," and exits with a 2-3 record in the Octagon, putting his overall tally at 8-3-1. The decision loss to Quarry was his third defeat in four fights, the lone victory a decision over
Chris Leben (Pictures).
Starnes also denied talk circulating MMA forums that he appeared on a Montreal radio program in the aftermath of the much-discussed fight.
"I never appeared on any Montreal radio show," he said, "and those reports are completely false."
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