'Contender Series' alum discloses initial plans to join another promotion prior to third opportunity: "Already made the decision to sign"
A 'Contender Series' alum recently opened up about his experience on the show and disclosed that he was set to join another promotion prior to his third opportunity materialized. He was declined a contract in two previous attempts, but was finally awarded a contract with the promotion after his third outing.
Torrez Finney was criticized by White after his second win this past August, with the UFC CEO saying that he wouldn't fare well in the octagon. Although it was viewed as a negative setback in his career, 'The Punisher' wasn't bothered as he explored other opportunities before getting a call back for a third time.
During his appearance on The Game Plan, the 25-year-old disclosed that he and his management had a deal in place to join an unnamed promotion, however, a phonecall from the UFC resulted in him changing his stance.
Finney mentioned that he was offered a great deal but halted those plans in favor of one final attempt at earning a contract with the MMA leader. He said:
"We were definitely looking for another promotion. After a second time, I was really playing the odds, I really was...Nobody in history had ever won twice on the 'Contender Series' and not gotten a contract, I was the first one...We had talked with another promotion over the course of a week and I was about to sign...I already made the decision, the pay was really good. I had already made the decision to sign." [5:53 - 6:45]
Click this link to check out the full interview with Torrez Finney below:
What did Dana White say about Torrez Finney's second 'Contender Series' performance?
Torrez Finney competed on Dana White's 'Contender Series' on three occasions in a 12-month span. He earned a submission win last October, but the UFC CEO advised him to get some more fights under his belt and make another attempt.
'The Punisher', however, was then set to join the latest season of 'The Ultimate Fighter' before the producers went in another direction. He managed to get another fight on the regional circuit and earned a first-round TKO, which earned him another opportunity on the 'Contender Series' this past August.
Although Finney earned a decision win, White once again passed on awarding him a contract because he believed that he wouldn't do well in the UFC:
"I'm always brutally honest with this stuff, you get absolutely decimated in the UFC with the performance that you put on tonight. Your performance last year was better than this performance." [1:05 - 1:16]
Check out Dana White's comments below: