Miguel Torres Rape Joke: MMA Fighter Released By UFC Following Controversial Tweet
Former WEC champion and UFC fighter Miguel Torres was released from the organization last week after an offensive tweet.
According to MMA Weekly, Torres tweeted on Wednesday, "If a rape van was called a surprise van, more women wouldn’t mind going for rides in them. Everyone likes surprises."
Although Torres eventually deleted the tweet, he initially seemed defiant in the face of the negative reaction, tweeting "on racism, pedifiles, terrorism, & other fucked up things is ok, but some are off limits. What a sensitive world we live in."
UFC President Dana White told Sports Illustrated during an interview on Thursday that Torres was no longer with the UFC as a result of the tweet.
Now there's no explanation for that. There's absolutely nothing I could say to make any sense of that. And the fact that he even thinks that's funny or that's a joke, it disturbs me. It bothers me. Again, you're dealing with a guy that's a smart guy, that owns his own business, that's been one of the top fighters in the world forever. And I cut him today. He's no longer with the UFC.
Torres' lack of sensitivity and seeming obliviousness to his own public visibility was especially confounding, considering just one month ago Forrest Griffin, another well-known UFC fighter, sparked controversy with a similarly heinous tweet, "Rape is the new missionary."
Torres posted the following statement on his website on Friday:
I have a lot to be thankful for in my life, I have my beautiful wife and daughter, my family, my health, my gym, and in terms of my career, I succeeded to the biggest stage in the sport of mixed martial arts, the Ultimate Fighting Championship. I am very sorry for upsetting my bosses at the UFC, and also to my fans and everyone else who was upset by the language in my tweets. I understand it was wrong, and I meant no harm or disrespect. Given the chance, I will do whatever it takes to make things right. I am going to learn from this. I think life throws you opportunities that can make you a better person, and so that's what I'm going to do here. That is how I am going to react. I am going to use this to improve myself, and I hope that my fans will continue to support me.
Torres has posted a 40-4 career MMA record, including a 2-1 record in the UFC.
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The Huffington Post Dan Treadway
First Posted: 12/12/11 07:22 AM ET Updated: 12/12/11 07:22 AM ET