MMA Off-Topic

[jeremym480]

^ I guess that I can sort of agree with that. However, I'm wondering how much of Fitch being cut is from "extenuating circumstances". What I mean is, we know that he and Dana were at odds over his likeness being used in the video games, plus he always refused to fight Koscheck. Then add to that the fact that Dana considers him a boring fighter (even though he won Fight of the Night in his last win) and I suppose you have a recipe for disaster.

The crazy thing is that Fitch is ranked in the Top 10 in the Official UFC rankings, that is from.my understanding released by the UFC. The conspiracy theorist in me has to believe that this could be a message to the remaining roster. Especially after the last card had a record 9 Decisions.

Enough with the crazy theories though and back to Fitch....After thinking about it I actually retract my previous statement about him being a gatekeeper. I think he's better than that. In my opinion, he's in the top 3-6 range, however he's never going to be better than that. He would just be someone to get in the way of any up and comer who threaten the title (especially strikers).

Personally, I would have like to see him stick around and fight against someone like Nick Diaz or Carlos Condit. Kampann would be good too. Hell he and BJ Penn still have unfinished business, so I wouldn't mind seeing those two going at it again (although as BJ fan I would rather him go back down to LW). Letting him go at this point just seems like a knee jerk reaction to me but who knows maybe he will be back.

I'm not too upset about the other fighters. Volkman is basically a LW version of Fitch (without the resume'). I've always enjoyed Vlad's fights, but at 42 how much does he really have left? And Russow's fights where usually fun (his KO of Duffee was flat out amazing) and he had a nice first round against Shawn Jordan in his last fight. Unfortunately, he punched himself out. Well, that or his cardio is terrible.... Probably a combination of both. Everyone else is basically .500 or worse in the UFC, so their cuts can be justified.

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[aholbert32]

Re: OS MMA Random Thread

^ I guess that I can sort of agree with that. However, I'm wondering how much of Fitch being cut is from "extenuating circumstances". What I mean is, we know that he and Dana were at odds over his likeness being used in the video games, plus he always refused to fight Koscheck. Then add to that the fact that Dana considers him a boring fighter (even though he won Fight of the Night in his last win) and I suppose you have a recipe for disaster.

The crazy thing is that Fitch is ranked in the Top 10 in the Official UFC rankings, that is from.my understanding released by the UFC. The conspiracy theorist in me has to believe that this could be a message to the remaining roster. Especially after the last card had a record 9 Decisions.

Enough with the crazy theories though and back to Fitch....After thinking about it I actually retract my previous statement about him being a gatekeeper. I think he's better than that. In my opinion, he's in the top 3-6 range, however he's never going to be better than that. He would just be someone to get in the way of any up and comer who threaten the title (especially strikers).

Personally, I would have like to see him stick around and fight against someone like Nick Diaz or Carlos Condit. Kampann would be good too. Hell he and BJ Penn still have unfinished business, so I wouldn't mind seeing those two going at it again (although as BJ fan I would rather him go back down to LW). Letting him go at this point just seems like a knee jerk reaction to me but who knows maybe he will be back.

I'm not too upset about the other fighters. Volkman is basically a LW version of Fitch (without the resume'). I've always enjoyed Vlad's fights, but at 42 how much does he really have left? And Russow's fights where usually fun (his KO of Duffee was flat out amazing) and he had a nice first round against Shawn Jordan in his last fight. Unfortunately, he punched himself out. Well, that or his cardio is terrible.... Probably a combination of both. Everyone else is basically .500 or worse in the UFC, so their cuts can be justified.

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One important point: Fitch was the fourth highest paid WW behind GSP, Diaz and Koscheck. He was higher paid than Hendricks, Condit and Kampmann. All six of those other fighters are more popular and more exciting fighters. Its hard for the UFC to pay someone 130k per fight when he doesnt sell tickets, draw ratings or ppv sales.

[TheShizNo1]

^ that's more telling than anything else I've read about it. That makes a helluva lot of sense.

[jeremym480]

That makes more sense, but why not just cut his pay rather than get rid of him altogether?

I admit that I don't know too much about how UFC fighters get paid. Who or what dictates their pay? Do they just negotiate on a per fight basis? Could they just say instead of making of making 130k on your next fight your only making 40-50k or whatever amount the deem as reasonable?

Remember Fitch was basically broke before the Silva fight. I don't think he could complain with anything less than 25 or 30k (plus sponsors and bonuses). I suppose he could go to another organization and get more, so maybe being cut works out for him too.

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[aholbert32]

Re: OS MMA Random Thread

That makes more sense, but why not just cut his pay rather than get rid of him altogether?

I admit that I don't know too much about how UFC fighters get paid. Who or what dictates their pay? Do they just negotiate on a per fight basis? Could they just say instead of making of making 130k on your next fight your only making 40-50k or whatever amount the deem as reasonable?

Remember Fitch was basically broke before the Silva fight. I don't think he could complain with anything less than 25 or 30k (plus sponsors and bonuses). I suppose he could go to another organization and get more, so maybe being cut works out for him too.

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The UFC doesnt renegotiate deals unless its to pay a fighter more (Hendricks and Woodley recently got raises) and/or get them to sign for more fights.

Here is how UFC contracts work: They are usually exclusive 4 fight deals. Depending on your level, you get a show and win amount for each fight. For example, Fitch got 65k to show and 65k if he won each fight. Overeem gets about 300k to show and 100k to win. Some fighters get guaranteed amounts like Silva and Diaz. Diaz gets 200k to show.

The UFC dictates your pay but you can negotiate if you have leverage. Fighters have managers and they help negotiate what their client is worth.

The cut can benefit Fitch money wise. If the UFC thinks he's only worth 20k/20k but Bellator or WSOF is willing to pay him 50/50, he gets more money. Plus if he goes out there and dominates he can easily come back to the UFC and possibly make more than the 65/65 he was making.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: OS MMA Random Thread

Awee they cut Fitch.........oh well Bellator is probably doing the happy dance right now.

[Sandman42]

Re: OS MMA Random Thread

Wonder if Bellator or WSOF gets to Fitch first. A potential Askren vs. Fitch match would be awesome.

[redsrule]

Re: OS MMA Random Thread

Wonder if Bellator or WSOF gets to Fitch first. A potential Askren vs. Fitch match would be awesome.

Askren beats Fitch pretty easily imo.

[redsrule]

Re: OS MMA Random Thread

Apparently they are working on Silva/Weidman for the July 4th card. Hopefully it happens.

[aholbert32]

Re: OS MMA Random Thread

Dana said alot about Fitch in the media scrum and Ariel interview:

- The UFC doesnt renegotiate deals down. They will pay you more money but will never ask for a pay cut. They prefer to cut fighters outright.

- Said Fitch can be back in "with a couple of wins" or he can go to Bellator and make a ton money. He believes Fitch would be a champion in Bellator.

- Confirmed that they are 100 fighters over their optimum amount. Said they have 475 fighters under contract right now. Expect alot of cuts in the next few months.

- Faber could be one of those cuts if he loses badly this wknd.

- Said Fitch was on the downside of his career and made a ton of money. Thats was the driving force behind the cut.

[redsrule]

Re: OS MMA Random Thread

If you're a prelim fighter, do everything you can do to win. Especially now. It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of them get the boot even after 1 loss.

Also I wonder if he counts the TUF guys from this season. He said all of them get a fight, so I'm assuming half of them get cut as well if it is cast mate vs cast mate.

[aholbert32]

Re: OS MMA Random Thread

If you're a prelim fighter, do everything you can do to win. Especially now. It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of them get the boot even after 1 loss.

Also I wonder if he counts the TUF guys from this season. He said all of them get a fight, so I'm assuming half of them get cut as well if it is cast mate vs cast mate.

I think you are right about the TUF guys.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: OS MMA Random Thread

Been listening to Dana White on Joe Rogan's Ustream podcast past couple of hours. They talking about some wild and crazy stuff. Some snippets:

1. Dana's surgery was a failure and now his health is 10 times worse then it was before he had the surgery on his ear. He said when it hits, he has to shut down for 8 to 9 hours straight.

2. Dana talked about how he got his butt kicked when he was younger when he was an amateur boxer and the whole boxing gym culture.

3. Talked about how they paid $67 million for a video library basically when they bought Pride.

4. Talked about how use to watch Mike Tyson and watch Mike Tyson train in Las Vegas.

5. Talked about when he was in high school how the football coach would give the whole team steroid shots and pills. That back in the 1980s was just widely known and did back then.

6. Talked about how drinking & partying basically shortened Chuck Lidell's career by a good 6 years.

7. Dana also told the story of when he was 21 in Boston, he was jumped on by two guys and they beat on him for a good 20 minutes straight.

8. Dana told the story of Roger Mayweather, Floyd's uncle had beat the crap out of this heavyweight boxer in the gym because the guy mouthed off at him and pretty much didn't know who Roger was.

9. Most money Dana lost gambling was $1 million dollars in one day. The most he ever won was $6 million in one day. He wins so much he is banned from gambling from some of the casinos there in Las Vegas.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: OS MMA Random Thread

Now he is telling the story of why UFC left Spike. Basically Spike told Dana White that Spike built UFC, handed them a contract, told Dana to sign it or leave it, we can build another hit MMA tv show.

[redsrule]

Re: OS MMA Random Thread

Diego Nunes & Milton Viera cut.