Todd Duffee Released From The UFC... But He's Still an Asset (UPDATED)

After what was undoubtedly one of the UFC's biggest shockers in the Heavyweight division, a previously reported bout between rising superstar Todd Duffee and Jon Madsen had to be called off due to an injury Duffee suffered while training, causing Gilbert "The Hurricane" Yvel to step in for him for the bout slated for UFC 121.

Those of you wondering when Duffee would return to the Octagon after the knee injury must still be wondering when he's returning to The Octagon.

Let me be the first to tell you that he's not going to be back in the UFC, at least not anytime soon.

MMA Junkie has confirmed via Duffee's manager, Alex Davis, that in fact the release is 100 percent legitimate, though motives and reasoning behind the release have yet to surface.

Duffee was an undefeated prospect coming into his UFC 114 bout with Mike Russow, and was on his way towards winning a unanimous decision when he was knocked out by Russow in the third round.

Despite the loss, Duffee (6-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was still considered to be an exciting young prospect in the UFC's largest weight class.

The news of Duffee's release in sending shock waves throughout the MMA world as we speak, and the question on everyone's minds right now has to be "who will pick Duffee up now?"

Only time will tell us when Duffee will fight in an octagon next.

** UPDATE (09/08/2010): MMA Mania reports that whatever the situation was, Davis has said that it was an unfortunate one, but Todd's "an ass". More updates will be provided on this story as it develops.

** UPDATE (09/08/2010, 12:29 PM CT): MMA Junkie reports that Duffee was finally able to be reached for comment. Duffee has said he had received a confirmation email saying he was released because of his loss to Russow, but he's honestly unsure as to why the decision was made to release him since the move is usually out-of-form for UFC officials after a fighter of Duffee's caliber loses his first pro fight in the UFC.

** UPDATE (09/09/2010): Please disregard the first update about Duffee's manager calling him an "ass". SI's Josh Gross has clarified via Twitter that Alex Davis meant to say "It's unfortunate, but Todd's an ASSET." To anyone from Mr. Duffee's management that may be reading this, allow me to be one of many to humbly apologize for the earlier reporting of the quote in question.