5 high-profile fighters who demanded their release from the UFC
The UFC is undoubtedly the world’s biggest MMA promotion, but despite paying more than its rivals and offering more prestige, fighters don’t always want to be there.
Over the years, we’ve seen a number of high-profile fighters stun fans by demanding their release from the UFC, either in public or behind the scenes.
Usually, cooler heads have prevailed or Dana White and company’s hard-nosed business acumen has kicked in and the fighter remains exactly where they are. Nevertheless, it’s still interesting to note that even the best fighters get tired of the promotion’s behaviour at times.
With that in mind, here are five high-profile fighters who requested their release from the UFC.
#5. Jorge Masvidal – UFC welterweight contender
Jorge Masvidal might’ve recently bragged to the MMA media about his new deal with the promotion, which reportedly pays him more highly than most of the fighters on the roster, but it wasn’t that long ago that ‘Gamebred’ was demanding his release from the promotion.
At the time, Masvidal was coming off the three huge wins that turned him into a superstar. Those victories came over Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz, the most recent of which gave him the infamous ‘BMF’ title.
However, he clearly didn’t see eye-to-eye with Dana White and the company with regards to their offer of a new deal. He took to social media to slam the promotion.
‘Gamebred’ not only claimed that he deserved more money, but also went to town on the promotion on their overall business practices, notably the idea that the COVID-19 pandemic was to blame for their lowball offer and the fact that the promotion’s revenue split only offered the fighters somewhere between 12% and 18%.
50% of the revenue. I don’t get paid on the hot dog you sell in the arena or the logo on the cage. I’ve never made a dollar on a ticket you sell. I get punched in the face for a living and even I know the pandemic or what’s left of it has nothing to do with it
When White then responded by essentially telling Masvidal that he wasn’t being forced to fight, ‘Gamebred’ responded by demanding his release.
I’m not an independent contractor if I can’t go anywhere else to make a living. Let me go and let me see if I’m worth it @espn #supernecessary
Of course, it didn’t take long for both sides to come to a mutual agreement for the Cuban-American to stay where he was.
Just weeks after the Twitter spat, a new opponent for welterweight champion Kamaru Usman was needed for the promotion’s big debut on Fight Island. So Masvidal was offered the spot, complete with a contract that apparently paid him exactly what he was after.