Reported on FiveOuncesOfPain.com, The UFC has released Jorge Gurgel after his decision loss to Aaron Riley in UFC 91.

Shortly thereafter, Gurgel signed on with Strikeforce. A lightweight contender, Gurgel has had some brutal fights, but has not been able to punch through to victory often enough. Even though Gurgel took home a bonus $60 thousand for ”Fight of the Night” with Riley, his 3-4 UFC record was likely a contributing factor to being cut from the UFC.

A move to Strikeforce is not always a step down for fighters though. Resources at the top are thin, and the UFC cannot remain afloat and keep every promising fighter on the roster. Still, competition at Strikeforce is brutal at the top. It is not like likely that Gurgle will have it any easier.

Gurgel is more than ready to climb the mountain at Strikeforce. “There are some amazing contenders in my weight class including Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez,” said Gurgel, “I will do whatever it takes to climb to the top of this league.”

Gurgel has the potential to win and many fans are puzzled why he does not utilize his ground game more. Although he won the bonus money for his ”Fight of the Night” loss, Gurgel may have won against Riley in a less exciting submission. Would that win have saved his postition in the UFC? Only Dana knows, but in this case Gurgel is $60 thousand richer for leaving his ground game at home.

UPDATE:
Later on Thanksgiving Day, Gurgel had a few things to say about his release to John Morgan of MMAJunkie.com.
”It’s not a happy moment,” Gurgel said. “It’s very humiliating, and it’s a crushing of my childhood dream.”

”I never [fought] for the money,” Gurgel said. “If you read any of my interviews, I only did it because my childhood dream—when I was in Brazil and 15 years old—was to come here to fight in the UFC. I wanted to have my own school and fight in the UFC. I got there, and now I’m out of the UFC.”

”One day I’ll be back again. I can not be happy—truly, truly, thoroughly happy—about what happened. But I am excited about new opportunities and new chances and new doors that are going to open, and for me to show my skills.”

It is clear from press reports that this is an emotional setback for Gurgel, but it is also clear that he has no intention of backing down, and fully intends to return to the UFC.