After 'shock' UFC release, Caros Fodor says ONE FC rules intrigued him

Caros Fodor is of the opinion his UFC release earlier this year came prematurely, but with his ONE FC debut against Seung Ho Yang just days away, the fighter isn’t one to dwell on the past.

Fodor made his one and only appearance in the world’s premier MMA organization at February’s UFC 157 event, where he lost a debatable split decision to lightweight veteran Sam Stout.

After just one fight, “The Future” was given his walking papers, which came as a surprise to the 29-year-old.

“I thought me and Sam had a pretty exciting fight, and I honestly thought I had done enough to win, and I thought they’d give me at least one more,” Fodor told MMAjunkie.com Radio. “They just said I was being cut, and that was a shock.”

Typically it takes a string of two or three losses for a fighter to receive his pink slip. However, despite the fact he won five of six fights under the now-defunct Strikeforce banner prior to the Stout matchup, Fodor was let go after just one defeat.

MMA’s current free agent market in MMA has a variety of options, with Bellator MMA and World Series of Fighting seemingly ready to scoop up most of the ex-UFC talent. Fodor went a different route, though, and signed with the Asian-based promotion ONE FC, where he had the most desire to compete. He also believes it’s the best fit at this juncture of his career.

“I wanted to go to ONE FC, and it was my first choice,” Fodor said. “They’re the biggest and best in Asia, and I wanted to be a part of that. I think organization-wise, it’s one of the best. They run things so professional, and they treat their fighters so well that it was definitely my first choice after being released.”

Having fought the first 10 professional bouts of his career in the U.S., traveling to Jakarta, Indonesia, for a showdown with Yang (6-0) at “ONE FC 11: Warriors and Champions” (online pay-per-view, 9 a.m. ET) is the very definition of Fodor (7-3) leaving his comfort zone.

While a new organization matched with heavy travel, a foreign culture and cutting weight can be a combination that would fluster most athletes, Fodor is upbeat over the experience and is eager to begin the next chapter of his career.

“I’m super excited to get moving past these last two losses and starting with a new organization,” said Fodor, whose final Strikeforce bout ended in a loss to Pat Healy. “Especially one as big as ONE FC, it’s a great opportunity for me, and I’m looking very forward to it and getting to travel.”

One aspect of ONE FC that has Fodor particularly jazzed is its PRIDE-esque rules, which include the legalization of knees and kicks to the head of a downed opponent. Fodor views these additional opportunities as a way to keep the fights moving at a higher pace while avoiding some of the stalling seen in under the Unified Rules of MMA in North America and other countries around the world.

“The rules over there, the soccer kicks and the knees to the head on the ground, really don’t allow for boring fights,” Fodor said. “I mean people bring it.”

While some feel Fodor’s UFC release was unjustified, the reality is he has moved on, and only positive thoughts run through his head prior to debuting in Asia’s top organization.

“[Being cut by the UFC] really did suck, but I’m super happy with ONE FC, and they’re still on the rise and growing,” he said. “I’m happy to be a part of it.”

For the latest on ONE FC 10, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

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