Melendez to Bellator unless UFC chooses to match their offer.
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Melendez to Bellator unless UFC chooses to match their offer.Comment -
So 3 top 10 LWs are now in Bellator?
1 top 10 WW is in Japan dry humping newbs.
UFC has the best talent in teh worldzComment -
Four soon. Brooks will be better than Melendez in a couple of years, I think. Not sure if he can get through Chandler or Alvarez right now though.
They also have Pitbull, who I think is the #3 featherweight right now. I think Askren is top five at 170, also. Dantas is about as talented as they come, he's a prodigy, Minakov is a top three talent, too. Bellator has some elite fighters.Last edited by MD; 02-14-14, 07:04 PM.Comment -
IMO, this was a bad move unless there is more of an equal secret bonus for every finish. The whole point of the KO and Sub bonus was to get the fighters to try and finish the fights. Guess they felt this wasn't working so now there is more incentive to just put on a great performance.Comment -
I really don't like where the UFC is heading... This PC horseshit of saying that Australian guy couldn't fight in the ufc even if he won TUF, because of a racist pic he posted a year ago.. the pointless and inferior changes to the fight bonuses. this so called "UFC uniform" give me a f-cking break. not paying gill enough and letting bellator snatch him up. and dana white talking shit about fighters. like when he did about overeem, bad performance is a five round beatdown? just because no KO? close your fat f-cking mouth dana and let the fighters fight however they want. danas ego has become unbearable. its his way or the high way and that's not the way to go about things. losing a top fighter like melendez because of greed. oh yeah not to mention that shit with the UFC pass. PPV money isn't enough? need to pay extra to see fights or get sued? go f-ck yourself.Comment -
The kid was 17 when he posted the pick. I don't believe for a second that the kid hates all black people. All this P.C. Communist B.S. need's to go! I imagine that 10 years from now UFC fighter's will get fired just for swearing on twitter because cursing is offensive to some people. People are getting way too soft & easily offended! It's down right pathetic!
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UFC won't match it.Comment -
lol even the company man Leben having a go at UFC for leaving him broke!...Perhaps spunking it all on drugs and alcohol played a part though?
Chris Leben: 'UFC Left Me Broken with Nothing'
By Dan Hiergesell, Featured Columnist Feb 16, 2014
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Fighters are truly a particular breed.
To understand how they think and operate, it would take a whole team of underground scientists conducting "secret" research somewhere in New Mexico.
But as private as that sort of research would be, sports is arguably the most public format in the world today. Athletes rarely separate themselves from normal individuals when it comes to sharing their sometimes ultra-controversial thoughts.
Topics like injuries, training, compensation and the lack of organizational support erupt all the time, especially in mixed martial arts.
As the most pure form of athletic supremacy and human aggression on the planet, MMA combatants often wear their emotions on their sleeves. Whether it's pre-fight, mid-fight, post-fight or in a private state, these brutalized competitors tend to speak their minds.
Former UFC middleweight mainstay Chris "The Crippler" Leben is no different, as his recent Twitter post suggests life after the Octagon is a monetary struggle:I wish I would've drove truck last 10yrs, then at least is have insurance to see a counselor. Ufc left me broken with nithingNow if you remember, Leben was one of the most barbaric fighters the promotion had to offer. Often seen gritting his teeth, spewing blood and walking through punches, the now 33-year-old Leben went to hell and back for the UFC.
— Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) February 16, 2014
But since his retirement, what has Leben been left with?
As a man who has struggled with substance abuse and personal conflict for the majority of his professional career, Leben would be the perfect candidate for a UFC retirement plan if such a thing existed.
Unlike others sports entities like the NFL, MMA organizations do not offer any sort of retirement contingency plan.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Spor
Instead, fighters are squeezed for what they're worth, recycled for new talent and tossed aside like chopped liver. There have been grumblings in the past about a pension fund for fighters, but nothing ever came to fruition.
So what does that mean for ex-warriors like Chris Leben?
Unfortunately, his financial woes fall under the "it's a dog-eat-dog world" mantra. It's a shame because a guy like Leben should have something to show for over eight years of blood, sweat and tears.
What he spent all of his earnings on is left to the imagination, but it would be nice for a world-class bruiser like him to have a little something to fall back on.
UPDATE:
Leben tweeted an apology for his recent comments about the UFC stating that a loss of his dog had fueled his emotions:
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haha they are all crawling out of the woodwork!...
Former UFC fighter Nate Quarry: The UFC 'cares nothing about the fighters.'
Full statement from Nate Quarry:
When I signed with the UFC this is what I was told"
We can't pay you much but you can have any sponsors you want.
Then: We need to approve your sponsors.
Then: You can't have any conflicting sponsors.
Then: You can't thank your sponsors after fights.
Then: We are not approving any sponsors that we don't like their product.
Then: Your sponsors have to pay us a fee of $50,000 for the pleasure to sponsor you.
Then: Your sponsors have to pay us a fee of $100,000 for the pleasure to sponsor you.
If a sponsor has a budget of 10k to sponsor a fighter, they are then out. If there are 5 shorts companies in the UFC you can only go to them for a sponsorship. If they have spent their budget or don't want to support an up and coming fighter they give you shorts instead of money. If you're fighting for $6,000 to show and fighting 3 times a year, even $500 makes a big difference. When there is no competition they don't have to pay you. I lost And1 as a sponsor when the UFC enacted the tax.
At the UFC summit a fighter asked if he could wear his own shirt. Dana laughed and said, "Uh... we can talk about it." I turned around and asked the UFC lawyer if I could wear my OWN shirt and he said, "Sure, give me $50,000 and we can talk about it."
People have no clue from the outside what it's like to fight for the UFC. After spending 10-15 years chasing your dream only to see that the company it's been your dream to fight for cares nothing about the fighters and only cares about the bottom line.
When I was fighting for the UFC we got X-Mas presents like an iPod. A very bottom of the line iPod but it was still cool. Now the guys get a gift certificate to the UFC store and can use it ONE day. Any money they don't spend on that day is forfeited.
A fighter gets to use the gym at the hotel he's fighting at for free. The cornermen and everyone with him have to pay. So I'm helping Leben make weight the day of weigh ins and have to pay to go sit in the sauna with him. The UFC couldn't say, "The fighter gets 3 people to go into the gym with him the week of the fight."
That's just nickel and dime stuff.
With every little bit they try to squeeze out of the fighters, the more the other organizations will look more attractive.
I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to fight for the UFC and everything I have besides my daughter has come from fighting. But let's not fool ourselves. It's not a charity. It's a business. And they are doing everything they can to make money. The fighters are just a product to use and discard. Every up and coming fighter is the best ever. Every ex-fighter who then expresses an opinion is a coward, loser, etc, etc.
I fought for the world title for $10,000. Not a penny more. No bonus. No cut of the PPV. The gate alone was 3.5 million dollars. The third highest gate in UFC history at the time. And they must have loved the fight cuz they show the final punch at the start of EVERY UFC PPV.
And that's fine. Because it's a business. But sooner or later the allure of fighting in the UFC will not be as attractive as fighting for an organization that takes care of you, appreciates you, will let you have sponsors to help make up the income gap, doesn't trash you when you think for yourself, and on and on. Just like every business you work for. It's funny to me to hear people cheer for Dana when he says things that if he was your boss and he said them about you, you would be looking for another job. But when you're signed to a contract, you can't go anywhere. No matter how much you want to.
When I retired I received a form letter, EMAILED to me that said, "Should you choose to fight again you are still under contract with the UFC." I didn't even get a hard copy with a real signature that I could frame.
As I said, I love what the UFC has done for me and my family. And specifically what Dana has done for me.
But I also know it's a business. And that's the best piece of advice I can give to wanna be fighters. Fight for the love of the game. But you better treat it like a business. Because the promoter handing you a contract sure will.Comment -
Ohhhh Vitor, commmmmaaaaaaaaaaaanComment -
36 MINUTE MARK
[IMG]<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7tiD1xKDmeo?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>[/IMG]Comment -
UFC veteran, Nate Quarry, took to the Underground forum earlier this week to debate the topic and give his side of the coin (which we covered intensely) and now we have some new insight from the former UFC middleweight title challenger.
In a great interview with Bloodyelbow.com’s Steph Daniels, Quarry continued his tirade over fighter pay.
Here’s a snip:
“I always make a reference to my title fight against Franklin. I ask people, ‘What do you think a title fight main event, in the MGM Grand on Pay-Per-View will get you?’ People usually guess about a million dollars. I got paid $10,000. No Bonus, no nothing. When I lost, I went back to my original contract of $5,000 to show and $5,000 to win. People are shocked by that. They can’t even comprehend it. I didn’t know any better. My representation was Team Quest. None of those guys knew how to even read a contract, let alone negotiate one. When I came back after my back surgery, they were putting me back on $5,000 to show and $5,000 to win, and I told them I just couldn’t do that. So they bumped me up to $10,000/$10,000 and I fought Kalib Starnes and Pete Sell for that pay. Then I called them up and I said, ‘I can’t do this. You’re paying me so little and I have a little girl I’m trying to put through college. There’s so much wear and tear on my body for such little money that I’d be better off doing just about anything else.’They gave me a raise, which was much appreciated, and at the end of my career I was happy with the money that I was making. It wasn’t bench riding NBA player money, but it was better than I ever expected, and I was very grateful for it.
The more money the UFC pays to the fighter, the better the fighters they’re going to have. I’ve known plenty of guys who have said, ‘It’s so embarrassing that I’m bartending between fights just to get by.’ If they’re not working as bartenders, how much better prepared would they be for their fights? The fans would get better fights, and the fighters would feel more comfortable. People generally don’t perform well when they’re scared for their jobs. They want to know that their jobs are secure. That even if they have an off night, they’re safe, because the company cares for them. Dana is famous for tipping his wait staff at the restaurants tens of thousands of dollars, so it would be better for your long term career to serve Dana drinks than it would be to fight for him.”
Last edited by Thor4140; 02-19-14, 07:50 PM.Comment -
hahaComment -
Matt Hughes & Matt Serra Agree To Fight?
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Back in 2009 Matt Hughes and Matt Serra engaged in a ‘Fight of the Night’ earning battle.
The two former champions fought to a very close decision that swung the way of Hughes.
Now both retired, the two took to twitter recently and after a back-and-forth appear to have agreed to fight.
Will Dana and the UFC brass allow this rematch between two legends to go down? Who knows. I don’t even know if both men were serious, but they did discuss it and they left it with a ‘Call Dana’.
Here’s the twitter convo:
HUGHESvsSERRA2 @AmberLMatthews
Friendly exhibition 3 rd match up during @ufcfanexpo July 2014 @matthughes9x vs @MattSerraUFC I dig this idea @danawhite whatcha think?!
Matt Serra @MattSerraUFC
@AmberLMatthews @ @matthughes9x if I’m gonna go thru camp to compete vs Hughes I’d be interested in a mma fight, sorry I’d wanna hit him
Matt Hughes @matthughes9x
@MattSerraUFC @AmberLMatthews you better want to loose some weight first.
Matt Serra @MattSerraUFC
@matthughes9x @AmberLMatthews haha yeah bro I’d put down the pasta for a chance to smack u again. Prob need a 5 month camp but would love 2!
Matt Hughes @matthughes9x 57m
@MattSerraUFC @AmberLMatthews talk to DW. If he says yes then I’m in.
- See more at: http://www.bjpenn.com/matt-hughes-ma....fr0Qoph9.dpufComment -
Seery steps in to face Brad Pickett at UFC Fight Night 37
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Irish flyweight Neil Seery has replaced injured Ian McCall and will face Brad Pickett at UFC Fight Night 37, UFC officials announced Thursday.
Seery stands at 13-9 and will be making his UFC debut. Pickett is 23-8 and this will be his seventh fight under the UFC umbrella.
UFC Fight Night 37 takes place March 8 at London’s O2 Arena. The entire 10-fight event streams on UFC Fight Pass in the United States.
The 34-year-old Seery is a longtime Cage Warriors fighter and reigning titleholder who’s now vacated his belt. He opened his career with a 7-8 record but since then he’s won six of seven and currently carries a four-fight winning streak.
Pickett is considered one of the top bantamweights (No. 6 in the BJPENN.com rankings) in the world, but losses to Michael McDonald and Eddie Wineland has the 34-year-old looking for a jumpstart at 125-pounds.
- See more at: http://www.bjpenn.com/seery-steps-in....bjjnWkcR.dpufComment -
pickett gonna have any energy for this fight?Seery steps in to face Brad Pickett at UFC Fight Night 37
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Irish flyweight Neil Seery has replaced injured Ian McCall and will face Brad Pickett at UFC Fight Night 37, UFC officials announced Thursday.
Seery stands at 13-9 and will be making his UFC debut. Pickett is 23-8 and this will be his seventh fight under the UFC umbrella.
UFC Fight Night 37 takes place March 8 at London’s O2 Arena. The entire 10-fight event streams on UFC Fight Pass in the United States.
The 34-year-old Seery is a longtime Cage Warriors fighter and reigning titleholder who’s now vacated his belt. He opened his career with a 7-8 record but since then he’s won six of seven and currently carries a four-fight winning streak.
Pickett is considered one of the top bantamweights (No. 6 in the BJPENN.com rankings) in the world, but losses to Michael McDonald and Eddie Wineland has the 34-year-old looking for a jumpstart at 125-pounds.
- See more at: http://www.bjpenn.com/seery-steps-in....bjjnWkcR.dpufComment -
Steve Mocco gets upset!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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UFC resigned Gil and hes coaching TUF vs Pettis and fighting for the title later this year...blaka!!!!Comment -
Bobby Green and Phil Baroni almost got into a fight in the crowd of UFC 170, two days later the situation still has not settled down. And now War Machine is involved.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/2/24/5441936/ufc-phil-baroni-bobby-green-twitter-fightComment -
I'd say Bobby Green lives in a dump, but then he might invite me over to beat me up.
Lol quickpumper tho.Comment -
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