10 Biggest MMA Prospects Pushed Too Soon
5. David Terrell
Some failed pushes derail a fighter’s fandom, while some play a part in ending careers.
David Terrell was 4-1 when he made his UFC debut in 2004, having spent his early career with the Japanese promotion Pancrase. Despite being primarily a wrestler, Terrell stunned many by knocking out Olympic medallist Matt Lindland in under a minute, and with good looks and a great natural physique the UFC were ready to cash in on “The Soul Assassin”.
Such was the level of hype around Terrell, the UFC reintroduced their middleweight title with Terrell facing veteran Evan Tanner for the vacant belt. Terrell threatened early with a guillotine before ending in Tanner’s guard and being struck into a first round stoppage, in what Joe Rogan described on commentary as “a dominating and humiliating defeat”.
The fight didn’t just hurt Terrell’s stock but also his long-term health, as the Californian suffered sinus issues that limited him to just one fight over the next four years, a first round submission over Scott Smith at UFC 59.
Terrell was formally released from the UFC in 2008, and today works as a jiu-jitsu coach in California.