UFC 83: Kalib Starnes Apologizes for 'By Far the Worst Fight of My Career'

At UFC 83, Kalib Starnes ran away from Nate Quarry so much that the fans went from cheering him to booing him over the course of 15 minutes, and this week he has become the laughingstock of mixed martial arts (video includes Starnes swearing):

Now Starnes, whose contract with UFC has been terminated, is trying his best to recover from the PR disaster of the way he fought -- or refused to fight. He first gave a brief interview to Mike Chiappetta of NBC Sports in which he sounded defiant and called criticism of him "outrageous," but he later backed down and released a statement that began with this:

"I would like to begin by saying that I was very happy to fight in Montreal, and that I trained really hard for my fight. I know that there were many people, including myself, who were disappointed with my performance, and I would like to apologize to my coaches, trainers and the fans for what happened. It was by far the worst fight of my career."

Starnes is right to apologize, but then he goes on to criticize the "extremely biased articles and commentary" about him. The truth is, the articles and commentary aren't Starnes' problem. The people who watched the fight know what they saw, and what they saw was ugly.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-24-2008 @ 12:47PM

Steve said...

Kalib is a good fighter but has proven to stall when injured. Remember him quiting when when he had a broken rib?
though he performed poorly I don't think his contract should have been pulled. I remember Forest running from his oponent for an entire fight last year but he wasn't criticized. Instead, they're giving him a title fight.
Did Kalib suck in that fight, yes! Should he be dropped, I don't think so.

4-24-2008 @ 3:12PM

michael matthews said...

i agree he should have gotin a second chance i'am sure his plan was to catch quarry running in with a knock out punch not to just run 15 minutes it was a poorly planed game plan they f--up bottom line .

4-25-2008 @ 9:07PM

john said...

hey you two idiots on top of me. Do you know anything about MMA, Kalib was a little girl with her stuff pushed in at that fight. You guys cheer a man who is a princess rather than a fighter. Im not surprised though you two are probably princess to.

4-26-2008 @ 4:51PM

hey you idiot above me what do you know about mma i bet your first though about mma was mymama you call kalib a princess hes got more guts in his little finger then you do in your hole body his game plan sucked he made a mistake an thats it i got a ideal how bout kalib urs the princess to call one is to be one hollar if you hear me .

4-26-2008 @ 7:24PM

look it michael matthews who u think your talking to like that. I dont know MMA, i have been training in MMA for over 5 years you jackass. And for that kalib got more guts in his little finger then i have in my whole body, look at you, you sound like a joke who's on her period. Kalib is a p%%sy and i am not surprised you defend him b cuz your on his nuts like his hair, never will get off.

B BOUT IT

4-27-2008 @ 5:33AM

Kalib Starnes said...

You're so right Michael David Smith, thank you for your fair article, I hate Kalib "The Coward" Starnes too!
(I couldn't find the right words to describe myself so I just decided to quote from forums I've looked through)
I agree with you all. My previous accomplishments should be completely forgotten. I'm "not a UFC level fighter". My wins over Jason MacDonald and Chris Leben should be taken off my record. I am a "gutless coward". What a horrible "piece of sh!t" I am! I am a "disgraceful fighter". I "should never be allowed to fight again!" I should be "dragged through the streets and beaten to death" by an angry mob! I'm "The Worst Fighter Of All Time", "The Laughingstock Of MMA", "I hope there are agencies in Canada that take his child away from him", "The Greatest Coward The World Has Ever Known". I should be "kicked out of ATT". I've never been hurt in a fight, in fact I "faked all of my doctors reports and xrays" just to get sympathy from the public. I am "a pu$$y", "a loser", "a liar", I just "make up excuses all the time", I'm just an "awful human being". Can you even think of anyone or anything as awful and shi++y as me? I'm "pathetic!" What "a joke!" What "a clown!" I'm "a bi+ch". I "should be killed!" I make me "want to puke!". I'm sorry if I forgot to quote you, but I'm sure that somebody will come along and continue the insult list for me. My favorite one so far is how my "kid should be beaten up at school", she's a kind beautiful little five year old little girl who I love more than anything. I can't believe that I didn't fight to the death to entertain you people! What was I thinking?

4-27-2008 @ 3:51PM

hey john you have your opinion an i have one for you to call anyone a p%%*y who fough in the ufc that speaks for it self i retired at 30 as a pro athete an anyone who as the guts to step in the ring of anything you put down thats just a reflection of your self be a f**k in man

4-27-2008 @ 7:01PM

hey michael matthews i understand want you said and i feel your pain. Yea right r u serious grow a pair and your a pro athlete i will own you in a MMA match.

b bout it

4-27-2008 @ 8:02PM

hey john i understand your pain being your one of those want to be sissys who ain't got a good thing to say about anybody i guess thats what you losers do talk sh--t behind your little srceen you should be the little hair on kalid balls but then you don't deserve that either b bout that

4-27-2008 @ 8:22PM

jake earl said...

kalib starnes

4-27-2008 @ 8:35PM

michael matthews ur a little b#tch who if i ever see in my city (Miami, Florida) i will knock ur b#tch ass senseless.

4-27-2008 @ 8:36PM

hey john the one running down kalib starnes an everybody else that has something positive say about the fight your not good enough to hold kalib jock strap you say you been in mma you sh==t too go get alife man nobody here wants to here your sh==t either

4-27-2008 @ 8:41PM

jake earl wants to get in this argument with us wow and u say i dont have a life. Ur like a leech your crawl on people who dont want you here

B BOUT IT

4-27-2008 @ 8:55PM

how bout i bi==ch slap your candy as john whats your last name i bet you can really run ah your mouth sure does i'll get in to more then an argument

4-27-2008 @ 9:59PM

john earl u know who i am.

im going to end this cuz unlike u i have a life and i hate going back and forth to my email to activate this comment for a useless piece of trash like u

B BOUT IT