Issue 142
June 2016
FO asks why fighters are looking to run down their contracts and break away from promotions to find out what they’re worth in the open market
Benson Henderson, Aljamain Sterling and Alistair Overeem all started the year discussing their intentions to pursue free agency. All three reached the end of their UFC deals and exercised their right to receive offers from other promotions. Ultimately, only ‘Bendo’ quit the Octagon and committed his future to the Bellator cage, but the other two signed long-term deals that tied them to new and improved Zuffa contracts.
Even top-ranked UFC 170lb contender Rory MacDonald openly discussed putting himself in the shop window despite his career being on the up. He just earned the biggest payday of his career at the highest level – a title fight with Robbie Lawler on one of the biggest events of 2015.
It’s not just UFC athletes. Fighters from other promotions are charging into the open market as they aim to reclaim control of their destiny and pursue greater renumeration for their efforts in the cage. Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks is adamant the conclusion of his current contract will signal the end of his run in the circular cage as he looks to follow Eddie Alvarez over to the Octagon. WSOF bantamweight champ Marlon Moraes hinted he may move on from his home of three-and-a-half years after his pleas for the organization to sign Sterling ended in disappointment.
With the UFC reporting record profits in 2015, it’s no surprise athletes want a bigger piece of the action – especially as other fighters’ claims of $100 million contracts are upheld by the owners. But is it just bigger paychecks motivating mixed martial artists’ experimentation in the free market, or is there anything else that could persuade them to abandon ship and test new, unfamiliar waters?
“Fighters becoming free agents is showing other fighters there are options out there. Perhaps we are guilty of being too focused on fighting for one organization or another, but I think you should always do what’s best for you. Whoever is treating you the best, whichever is paying you the kind of money you deserve at that moment.
“Benson Henderson has already won a world title. It’s not like he needs to go on a title run, he’s done that. But for me to leave the UFC would be silly. I’m on the right track to getting the money I believe I deserve for this life and the UFC are going to give me the opportunity to compete against the very best in the toughest division in the world. If I was a former champion who had already achieved these things and another company wanted to pay me more money for beating people up then I might not disagree with it.”
Tyron Woodley
UFC welterweight
“I’ve made an investment in my career. I love World Series (of Fighting) and I want to stay with them, but I have two fights left (and) I’m going to make them impressive, win or lose. I’m OK staying with World Series, but I’m going to see what I’m worth.”
Justin Gaethje
Undefeated WSOF lightweight champion
“I believe all fighters should aim to get what they believe they’re worth, rather than just taking whatever is available to them at the time. Nobody should take a deal because they think they’ll get punished in some way if they don’t sign it. That’s not the right way to approach the game. You want to sell yourself and, of course, it’s important you have something to sell. I believe I have that. I believe I have a big future in this sport.”
Aljamain Sterling
Undefeated UFC bantamweight
“I just want to fight with the best. Let’s see what’s going to happen. MMA is a new business. Everybody is doing different things now and we never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. But I’m definitely looking to fight with the best guys. This has always been my dream and this is why I started martial arts.”
Marlon Moraes
WSOF bantamweight champion
“I’d rather not go through it. I’d rather just agree something with the UFC and move forward, but we’ll see what happens. I’m very willing to do it though, if that means making more money.”
Rory MacDonald
UFC’s number-one contender at 170lb
“At the end of the day you have to realize it’s a business. I always hear fighters say, ‘They said they would take care of me.’ When is the last time that ever happened? Ask Mike Tyson how that worked out. In our fight game I don’t trust that at all, unless it’s written down in my contract. You hear things like the deals are better for the fighters. It’s not. If it’s so much better for me then put it down in my contract. Put it in writing.”
Josh Thomson
Bellator lightweight
“I’m in favor of fighters getting paid more. They should get paid a lot of money. It’s an insanely hard job and without them there is no UFC. That’s what it’s all about. Some fighters get paid extraordinarily well. Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor both get paid extraordinarily well, but a guy like Aljamain Sterling could be a future superstar.
“He had a good point when he asked, ‘Why does Sage Northcutt get all this hype?’ He’s just as shredded, just as good looking and he talks better. He’s a fun, exciting and confident guy. He should have a giant hype machine behind him.”
Joe Rogan
UFC color commentator
“The free-agency market is a good thing. The market growing like this means more opportunity, more money and bigger fights. More competition will bring more value to the fighters. The UFC have always been good to me. I’ve been with the organization for 19 fights now and I’m probably one of the highest paid lightweights that’s not a champion or never held a belt. That’s because I fight often, I fight well and the fans want to see me fight because I’ve been around so long.
“The UFC treat me really well and I’d be a liar to say anything different. I live the life I do because of the opportunities the UFC have given me and the hard work I’ve put in. It’s a good thing there are other options out there for fighters who aren’t too happy or want to test themselves in new environments. It shows how far the sport has come. Other organizations are capable of competing with the UFC and that’s got to be beneficial for everybody.”
Ross Pearson
Former winner of The Ultimate Fighter
“My entire career I have fought at the highest level, always on the biggest stages, so it was natural I would join the UFC. But it was a deal that took some time. You have to do what is right for you, the fighter. When my contract was up for renewal again I had to know that I was in the best place. The best heavyweights in the world are here in the UFC, but nearing 50 career fights, I am coming to the end of my career, so the next move is important.
”When I spoke with Dana (White) and Lorenzo (Fertitta) and they revealed the UFC would be going to Holland and I would be the main event – this helped with my decision, of course. I want to be the fighter that brings UFC to Holland for the first time. It’s incentives like this that led to my decision to sign a new contract – maybe my last career contract.”
Alistair Overeem
UFC heavyweight
