Rory MacDonald looming free agency

[vanfan]

Its common knowledge that the UFC and Rory's camp have not come to terms on a new deal, and clearly Rory has not been happy with the position that the UFC has taken in these talks.

Rory is 18-3, with his 3 losses to:

1. Carlos Condit in a 3 round war against former interim WW champion where he was arguably winning until Condit pulled a KO in the last 7 seconds of the fight;

2. Robbie Lawler in a split decision 3 round war that might have been edged in Robbie's favour with a 3rd round knockdown, otherwise Rory was winning in the eyes of a lot of people; and

3. Robbie Lawler in that 5 round war for the WW championship we saw last July. He was arguably winning that fight going into the 5th by some as well.

Whether you agree that Rory was winning or losing doesn't matter - the point is that Rory is right there against the two best in the division and is elite of the elite. He has wins against Saffediene, Woodley, Maia, Ellenberger, Penn, and Nate Diaz and he's younger than all of the top fighters in the division.

Surely the Red King is going to be a very good PPV draw, if not a great PPV draw in future fights, particularly if he rematches either Condit or Lawler so he's got to be worthy of a PPV cut as a main or co-main going forward.

And being from Tristar with a training partner and brother such as GSP, he won't be lacking in knowledge for what a fighter's value is to the UFC. He won't be delusional nor will he be naive and gullible.

So my question is: what could the UFC and Rory be in disagreement of? How could they be so far apart in negotiations? Surely its just a matter of:

a) does he or does he not get a PPV cut as a main/co-main?
b) show and win money?
c) other perks?

How can they be so far apart? The real big money is in the PPV cut - surely whatever difference they have in the show and win money can't be so far apart that it can't be settled. So I can only assume that Rory's camp think he should be getting PPV cuts and the UFC doesn't?

Is this the issue, and if so do you think that Rory deserves main/co-main status and a PPV cut?

 

[Monkfish]

Negotiating with Dana and Co got to be hard....

 

[vanfan]

Fawk...I'm watching UFC Main Event right now and the replay of Lawler/MacDonald II is on right now. MacDonald just threw that 40 second flurry at the end of round 3!!!!

Dammit - the guy has earned a pay day hasn't he? He's earned some UFC loyalty points and I would watch events with him as a main/co-main no problem.

 

[MEAN357]

if he gets smacked by Wonderboy you can bet he'll be going to bellator

 

[MayhemMonkey]

the UFC need to pay him what he deserves, he is too big of a name for them to lose to a rival promotion

 

[Sonny Qc]

If he win Vs Wonderboy he will hit the jackpot, no way the UFC will let a 26yrs Old, top 3 ww in the world go to Bellator.
Even if he lose, Bellator will offer him a very good contract. He deserve it.

 

[DS7]

I think the UFC is fucking crazy if they let Rory go.

 

[KillerElite]

Its common knowledge that the UFC and Rory's camp have not come to terms on a new deal, and clearly Rory has not been happy with the position that the UFC has taken in these talks.

Rory is 18-3, with his 3 losses to:

1. Carlos Condit in a 3 round war against former interim WW champion where he was arguably winning until Condit pulled a KO in the last 7 seconds of the fight;

2. Robbie Lawler in a split decision 3 round war that might have been edged in Robbie's favour with a 3rd round knockdown, otherwise Rory was winning in the eyes of a lot of people; and

3. Robbie Lawler in that 5 round war for the WW championship we saw last July. He was arguably winning that fight going into the 5th by some as well.

Whether you agree that Rory was winning or losing doesn't matter - the point is that Rory is right there against the two best in the division and is elite of the elite. He has wins against Saffediene, Woodley, Maia, Ellenberger, Penn, and Nate Diaz and he's younger than all of the top fighters in the division.

Surely the Red King is going to be a very good PPV draw, if not a great PPV draw in future fights, particularly if he rematches either Condit or Lawler so he's got to be worthy of a PPV cut as a main or co-main going forward.

And being from Tristar with a training partner and brother such as GSP, he won't be lacking in knowledge for what a fighter's value is to the UFC. He won't be delusional nor will he be naive and gullible.

So my question is: what could the UFC and Rory be in disagreement of? How could they be so far apart in negotiations? Surely its just a matter of:

a) does he or does he not get a PPV cut as a main/co-main?
b) show and win money?
c) other perks?

How can they be so far apart? The real big money is in the PPV cut - surely whatever difference they have in the show and win money can't be so far apart that it can't be settled. So I can only assume that Rory's camp think he should be getting PPV cuts and the UFC doesn't?

Is this the issue, and if so do you think that Rory deserves main/co-main status and a PPV cut?

No arguing
He was up 3-1 on all scorecards.

 

[12ga.]

I think UFC is letting people go to rival until this anti trust thing blows over. as an added bonus saves them money.

 

[Sparkie]

Fawk...I'm watching UFC Main Event right now and the replay of Lawler/MacDonald II is on right now. MacDonald just threw that 40 second flurry at the end of round 3!!!!

Dammit - the guy has earned a pay day hasn't he? He's earned some UFC loyalty points and I would watch events with him as a main/co-main no problem.

needs a good showing against wonderboy

 

[vanfan]

If he win Vs Wonderboy he will hit the jackpot, no way the UFC will let a 26yrs Old, top 3 ww in the world go to Bellator.
Even if he lose, Bellator will offer him a very good contract. He deserve it.

I'm watching him wreck Lawler here in the 4th round now...

I just don't know why the UFC needs to wait until after the Wonderboy fight to give him a jackpot. He's already earned it. Can't they deal with their bread and butter with some good faith and reward them when they've done well?

Hell, the Wonderboy fight could be another war and maybe he even loses...does that mean that he doesn't deserve that jackpot anymore? Will fight fans stop watching MacDonald if he does lose? Personally I think I'll watch him no matter what happens even if he shits the bed.

 

[vanfan]

I think UFC is letting people go to rival until this anti trust thing blows over. as an added bonus saves them money.

The anti-trust case is made stronger if they don't pay the talent when they could. It doesn't help them to let the good talent go.

 

[Sonny Qc]

I'm watching him wreck Lawler here in the 4th round now...

I just don't know why the UFC needs to wait until after the Wonderboy fight to give him a jackpot. He's already earned it. Can't they deal with their bread and butter with some good faith and reward them when they've done well?

Hell, the Wonderboy fight could be another war and maybe he even loses...does that mean that he doesn't deserve that jackpot anymore? Will fight fans stop watching MacDonald if he does lose? Personally I think I'll watch him no matter what happens even if he shits the bed.

Haha also watchin it

 

[vanfan]

And now I'm watching the 5th round, and Lawler caved Rory's face in. Fawk.

Employees of corporations get paid well when they work hard, put in extra hours, do good work, and bring in revenue. They don't usually have to get their faces caved in to earn it on top of it.

Dude deserves to get paid.

 

[cburm]

Its common knowledge that the UFC and Rory's camp have not come to terms on a new deal, and clearly Rory has not been happy with the position that the UFC has taken in these talks.

Rory is 18-3, with his 3 losses to:

1. Carlos Condit in a 3 round war against former interim WW champion where he was arguably winning until Condit pulled a KO in the last 7 seconds of the fight;

2. Robbie Lawler in a split decision 3 round war that might have been edged in Robbie's favour with a 3rd round knockdown, otherwise Rory was winning in the eyes of a lot of people; and

3. Robbie Lawler in that 5 round war for the WW championship we saw last July. He was arguably winning that fight going into the 5th by some as well.

Whether you agree that Rory was winning or losing doesn't matter - the point is that Rory is right there against the two best in the division and is elite of the elite. He has wins against Saffediene, Woodley, Maia, Ellenberger, Penn, and Nate Diaz and he's younger than all of the top fighters in the division.

Surely the Red King is going to be a very good PPV draw, if not a great PPV draw in future fights, particularly if he rematches either Condit or Lawler so he's got to be worthy of a PPV cut as a main or co-main going forward.

And being from Tristar with a training partner and brother such as GSP, he won't be lacking in knowledge for what a fighter's value is to the UFC. He won't be delusional nor will he be naive and gullible.

So my question is: what could the UFC and Rory be in disagreement of? How could they be so far apart in negotiations? Surely its just a matter of:

a) does he or does he not get a PPV cut as a main/co-main?
b) show and win money?
c) other perks?

How can they be so far apart? The real big money is in the PPV cut - surely whatever difference they have in the show and win money can't be so far apart that it can't be settled. So I can only assume that Rory's camp think he should be getting PPV cuts and the UFC doesn't?

Is this the issue, and if so do you think that Rory deserves main/co-main status and a PPV cut?

I hope bellator eventually takes all my favorite fighters cuz ill gladly leave with them getting sick and tired of ufc clowning only letting certain fighters go to different weights picking and choosing not doing shit us fans wanna see before the top fighters get old and they seem to be putting all the money in there matress and giving the fighters the fallin change.

 

[Ceez]

if he gets smacked by Wonderboy you can bet he'll be going to bellator

This is the UFC's primary bargaining chip right now and you can bet your ass that they won't negotiate until after that fight. If he loses they will pile on and say he can't ever win the big one and if he wins they will bring up his 3 losses lol.

 

[MEAN357]

This is the UFC's primary bargaining chip right now and you can bet your ass that they won't negotiate until after that fight. If he loses they will pile on and say he can't ever win the big one and if he wins they will bring up his 3 losses lol.

Exactly. Here kid, ya lost take some peanuts. Dont spend it all in once place.

 

[Spookv]

Best thing for him would be to re sign with the UFC, but if they money isn't right he should try free agency. I say the best thing for him to stay with the UFC is because at the end of his career I'm sure the UFC would offer him a job to run a gym or be scout for fighters up in Canada, as he and GSP is by far the most famous fighters from Canada.

 

[vanfan]

This is the UFC's primary bargaining chip right now and you can bet your ass that they won't negotiate until after that fight. If he loses they will pile on and say he can't ever win the big one and if he wins they will bring up his 3 losses lol.

They were trying to negotiate prior to this fight though and they obviously insulted him some way or somehow. So they probably low-balled him.

Which is why I'm asking - how come this management group can't negotiate in good faith with their fighters. Rory just fought in a WW championship fight of the ages, in a fight he could have won, in a division with fighters he has proven he is capable of beating all...and they need to wait for a fight against Wonderboy?!?! They're doing that because if he loses they could argue he's worth less while also hoping time will erase some of the gleam of his last fight against Lawler.

 

[BruceLeeOnTRT]

I'd be surprised if he resigns. Bellator will pay him more than UFC is willing to match and he can have sponsors again. I think he wants out of that reebok mess.