Calling a UFC fighter scary may seem redundant, but certain athletes possess an intangible edge, a presence and an aura that sets them apart from the rest.
Think of fighters like Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, Francis Ngannou, Alex Pereira, Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson, Wanderlei Silva or Mirco 'Cro Cop'. When these men stepped into the cage, they instilled a palpable sense of fear for anyone unfortunate enough to face them that night.
Such was the case with California's 'Soul Assassin', David Terrell, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt under the legendary Cesar Gracie, and a fighter whose story has been lost to the MMA history books.
David Terrell was one of the bigger 'what ifs' from classic UFC
Terrell cut his teeth in ADCC and Pancrase before moving to the UFC. He earned a bronze medal at the 2003 ADCC tournament, falling short against future UFC middleweight legend Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Royler Gracie protégé Saulo Ribeiro.
At just 26 years old, Terrell made his UFC debut on the main card of UFC 29: Unfinished Business in 2004 against top middleweight contender and former Olympic medalist Matt Lindland.
It took Terrell just 25 seconds to make a statement, taking down Lindland with a mix-up combination before bouncing his head against the canvas with a vicious ground and thump.
This debut victory was enough to earn Terrell a shot at the vacant middleweight title. He fought the late Evan Tanner at UFC 51: Super Saturday in 2005.
However, both fighters missed weight, meaning the title was unavailable regardless of the outcome. Tanner ultimately won the fight by TKO in the first round, handing Terrell his second defeat in MMA and his first under the UFC banner.
David Terrell's career was marred by inactivity
During his seven-year career, Terrell only fought eight times. His MMA debut loss came at the hands of 33-fight veteran Vernon White, and his decisive UFC defeat was a setback against perennial contender Tanner.
Still, at such a young age, it was thought that Terrell could have bounced back, but circumstances beyond his control prevented him from realizing his full potential.
Terrell was plagued with injuries that kept him on the shelf between fights. Not only this, but the loss to Tanner had a profound psychological impact on Terrell, an impact he continued to train on.
“I knew I could have become world champion. It sucks. I just gave up and just lay there. I beat myself, and if I beat myself like that, it will probably haunt me forever,” Terrell told Sherdog.
Terrell retired in 2006 with a 6-2 record and maintained an impressive 100 percent finishing percentage throughout his career. While his fighting legacy may be short, it lives on at his gym, Nor-Cal Fighting Alliance, where notable fighters like Joe Soto and Joaquin Lopez have emerged.
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