UFC slices Kimbo after lackluster loss in Montreal

Kimbo Slice's career with the UFC will end after a second-round knockout loss to Matt Mitrione at UFC 113 in Montreal on Saturday night.

The referee stopped the bout at 4 minutes, 24 seconds after Mitrione (2-0) landed a series of ground strikes on the legendary street brawler and viral video sensation.

Slice fell to 4-2 in his mixed martial arts career and 1-1 in the UFC. UFC president Dana White said in the postfight news conference that Slice would be released from his contract.

"It's not about being a huge draw, it's about having the right to be here," White said. "Because whether you're a big draw or not, this is about the sport and who's best. There are other people out there that deserve to be in the UFC."

White lauded Slice's effort in training to get better at mixed martial arts.

"I'm happy to have met Kimbo Slice," White said. "He's not who I thought he was. He's a good guy. He came in, worked hard, he's done everything he could to evovle as a mixed martial artist . . . He lost tonight. Kimbo Slice is no different than any of the other guys that don't make the cut and get cut from the UFC."

In the main event, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua knocked out Lyoto Machida (16-1) in the first round to win the UFC light heavyweight title.

The end came at 3:35 after Rua (9-4) landed a right hook to Machida's temple that dropped him, climbed on top and finished the bout.

In the co-main event, Josh Koscheck beat Paul Daley to become the No. 1 contender in the welterweight division and the right to coach opposite Georges St. Pierre in "The Ultimate Fighter." All three judges scored the fight, 30-27.

Daley threw a cheap shot to Koscheck's chin as he was walking back to his corner after the conclusion of the fight, leading White to say that Daley's UFC career was over.

"To blatantly walk up and punch a guy long after the bell, there is just no place for that in this organization," White said.