How quickly things can change in just one fight. The UFC has sent top ten heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum packing after he suffered a knockout loss to little known Junior Dos Santos at UFC 90 two weeks ago. The Chute Boxe fighter was promised a title shot if would have been able to walk away victorious, now he finds himself unemployed.

Current champ Randy Couture will be defending his title against Brock Lesnar this weekend at UFC 91, with the winner to unifty the title against the victor of the interim champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira bouts against Fank Mir’s at UFC 92.

If Werdum could have beaten Dos Santos, he would have taken on the unified champion later in 2009.

The reason for his exit from the world’s largest MMA organization seems to circle around the inability of both parties to successfully renegotiate his contract. The UFC was looking to cut Werdum’s pay, as he has now posted a meger 2-2 record for the promotion. Werdum wasn’t prepared to do that.

Werdum is already in negotiations with other MMA promotions. If he is still interested in competing in the US, he would most likely sign with Affliction Entertainment, as their non-exclusive contracts would allow the fighter to compete one of Japan’s promotions as well.