Why don't guys just finish out their contract then go to another promotion?

[You Will Vote For Dreyga]

Honest Question: I never understand why fighters who want to be released just don't finish their contract and test the waters of free agency. I mean dozens of fighters have done it before why can't they?

 

[reigning terroe]

Honest Question: I never understand why fighters who want to be released just don't finish their contract and test the waters of free agency. I mean dozens of fighters have done it before why can't they?

Champions can’t

 

[Ares Black]

A lot of them do.

 

[Thepaintbucket]

Before a big fights the UFC will generally negotiate more money/contract extensions before allowing them to fight

 

[GrantB13]

Some of them are trapped with the champion clause, but guys like Masvidal should just take any scrub fight they give and get out if they truly don't wanna be there.

 

[ignorant MMA fan]

Why do that when you can cry on twitter and making stupid IG videos and then selectively read the comments that agree with you?

 

[LouisBolanos]

Because anyone worth a damn to the UFC gets paid more in the UFC than anywhere else, so despite all the bitching and whining they stay with the UFC. A fighter who "successfully tested free agency" is really just a fighter the UFC doesn't want to keep.

 

[Sirwastealot]

Because unless you have a big name/brand already your best shot of climbing the ladder is in the UFC. No other org has this kind of reach or following or big fights.

UFC is by far and away the top MMA organisation and most of these fighters want to be there.

This gives them a lot of leverage and yes they do take advantage of that leverage. But most of these fighters want to be here and also make more money.

Look at masvidal, who would he fight if he leaves UFC? Sure as hell isn't getting the conor or nate fight. He could have 1 maybe 2 money fights in boxing where he'l get his ass handed to him. Or some mid level fights in another org which he might win but won't pay as much and won't raise his stock too much.

That's the reality of it. Until there's a proper competitor at UFC's level it's the best place to be.

 

[Da Speeit]

Why do that when you can cry on twitter and making stupid IG videos and then selectively read the comments that agree with you?

 

[kflo]

Ufc has right to match as well.

 

[Southpaw_27]

Some of them are trapped with the champion clause, but guys like Masvidal should just take any scrub fight they give and get out if they truly don't wanna be there.

All the promotion he's been doing for himself the last two years would be for nothing. Jorge has worked his way into a position where he actually has leverage. What kind of fighter would willingly fight nobodies right after main eventing MSG?

 

[EXOICHO]

Because anyone worth a damn to the UFC gets paid more in the UFC than anywhere else, so despite all the bitching and whining they stay with the UFC. A fighter who "successfully tested free agency" is really just a fighter the UFC doesn't want to keep.

True, but UFC only cares about promotional value rather than actual legitimacy/skill value

they'll let top 10's go because they want to lowball them. Rory only getting like 60k to lose half his lifespan against lawler in one of the best fights ever is a great example.

 

[whitebelt4life]

Some of them are trapped with the champion clause, but guys like Masvidal should just take any scrub fight they give and get out if they truly don't wanna be there.

Where is Masvidal going to go and make more money? Bellator? Boxing? Maybe he can make 1 decent payday in boxing before he's humiliated. He's just trying to ride Jones' coattails now.

 

[vanillaisis]

All the promotion he's been doing for himself the last two years would be for nothing. Jorge has worked his way into a position where he actually has leverage. What kind of fighter would willingly fight nobodies right after main eventing MSG?

The problem is there is no scrubs/nobodies in the WW Top 10. UFC offers the fights and chooses the opponents. He can maybe beat Leon.

 

[Pierced7681]

Because unless you have a big name/brand already your best shot of climbing the ladder is in the UFC. No other org has this kind of reach or following or big fights.

UFC is by far and away the top MMA organisation and most of these fighters want to be there.

This gives them a lot of leverage and yes they do take advantage of that leverage. But most of these fighters want to be here and also make more money.

Look at masvidal, who would he fight if he leaves UFC? Sure as hell isn't getting the conor or nate fight. He could have 1 maybe 2 money fights in boxing where he'l get his ass handed to him. Or some mid level fights in another org which he might win but won't pay as much and won't raise his stock too much.

That's the reality of it. Until there's a proper competitor at UFC's level it's the best place to be.

exactly this. Guys like Masvidal would get one or two big paydays from boxing, but they wouldn’t make more money if they fought mma elsewhere.

Conor is probably the only guy in the UFC who could make a boxing career happen if he left the ufc. If he wanted to fight mma elsewhere there’s no opponent with a big enough name for him to sell a ppv with.

 

[Sumomike]

Ya, champion clause makes it tricky, but otherwise it's BS. Finish out what you agreed to and then go get what you think you're worth.

The one thing that is a little bullshit is that if you aren't not winning or drawing well, you can get let go at any moment.

So if you're value goes up, you're stuck. if you falter, you might get nothing.

But the bottom line is don't sign a contract you're not okay with.

 

[Draxton]

Champions can’t

Yes they can.

 

[Dirge]

The matching clause is a big part of it.

The champs obviously are fucked but a non champ agrees to let the UFC match any other orgs offer and if its better the fighter has to take it.

Bellator has the same type of agreements. Eddie Alvarez spent a lot of money on lawyers exiting Bellator because of this.

 

[snackgod]

Honest Question: I never understand why fighters who want to be released just don't finish their contract and test the waters of free agency. I mean dozens of fighters have done it before why can't they?

fighters are doing it now alot. the problem some ufc guys get now is they signed a super long term deal an now know that came back to hurt them. i bet werdum wasnt happen when he was champ he signed an 8 fight deal.

 

[snackgod]

Ufc has right to match as well.

than it be a win win for the fighter. just like gilbert got his deal matched.