Why champs refuse to defend in the UFC?

[cyrusthevyrus]

Why it is not the case in Bellator or ONE or in the UFC several years ago?

Usman and Colby refuse to defend
Cejudo doesn't defend yet in both divisions
Whittaker had problems (ok, I understand here, medical)
Problems at HW...

and of course, Conor !

 

[boxingskills]

We need more champ champs in MMA

 

[Substance Abuse]

Money talks.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

They probably make more in sponsorship and social media as a champion than by fighting.

 

[San Griente]

Maybe it goes to show that, as disgusting as the pay in UFC is, you’ve gotta keep ‘em hungry or they’ll stop fighting.

 

[BEATDOWNS]

Welcome to the WME ducking Era!

 

[cheat toes]

 

[Sweater of AV]

Because of these two dorks.

 

[Rafael MMA]

This is nothing new. See Tito or Randy.

 

[Kvothe_the_kingkiller]

UFC created the rules of this game. Start there.

 

[Hardcore MMA]

If a champ turns down a fight from the next contender, they should have to vacate.

On the note of champs not defending, DC went 9 months between the Derek Lewis and Stipe2 fights. Khabib and Jones seem to be the only active male champs these days.

 

[Woodstock99]

Why it is not the case in Bellator or ONE or in the UFC several years ago?

Usman and Colby refuse to defend
Cejudo doesn't defend yet in both divisions
Whittaker had problems (ok, I understand here, medical)
Problems at HW...

and of course, Conor !

Cejudo has defended one title against Moraes though

 

[GueseGuy]

Because the UFC underpays. /thread

 

[WHALEWOLF]

Not a real champ until you defend.

 

[Woodstock99]

 

[Source]

Didn’t Minikov go nearly 5 years before being stripped without defending the Bellator HW title?

 

[Kenny Powerth]

Because of these two dorks.

Looks like Dana and Connor are playing touchbutt..... literally.

 

[Congo66]

Maybe it goes to show that, as disgusting as the pay in UFC is, you’ve gotta keep ‘em hungry or they’ll stop fighting.

Absolutely look at Canelo he's only had something like 15 title fights and is still going or Mayweather who had 26 of them.
Or in other sports where you have Brady still going at 42 or LeBron and Ronaldo still doing it at 34 with 100's of millions in the bank.

 

[San Griente]

Absolutely look at Canelo he's only had something like 15 title fights and is still going or Mayweather who had 26 of them.
Or in other sports where you have Brady still going at 42 or LeBron and Ronaldo still doing it at 34 with 100's of millions in the bank.

So offer a theory as to why this is

 

[Rafael MMA]

Tito and Randy pulled the same shit. Nothing new here. Move along.

 

[GueseGuy]

Maybe it goes to show that, as disgusting as the pay in UFC is, you’ve gotta keep ‘em hungry or they’ll stop fighting.

That’s stupid. Maybe guys don’t wanna fight absolute killers for chump change? If I was a champ and I knew I was getting a fat check I’d be ready to defend every time. But what’s the point of defending when you’re pulling teeth to get a couple hundred thousand?