Why isn't Vitaly Minakov in the UFC?

[Fedor by armbar]

21-0 destroyed Volkov. Recently koed Bigfoot. The heavyweight division needs contenders and this guy could win the belt. What's the deal?

 

[ArmenianAssasin]

Good money to be made in Russia now with fng and acb — ufc would need to throw some major $$

 

[gopackgo555]

Don't think the UFC can afford him. He most certainly makes more in Russia than what he would make in the UFC.

 

[Venom]

Money

 

[Kvolcom]

What they said above

UFC losses fighters to Bellator because they're cheap lol

It's not the big leagues any more

 

[Sakuraba7]

Because Bellator has him on a leash and won't let him fight for other promotions in North America. They just need to let him go instead of being bullshit.

All those Russian fighters they've cut for no reason after Coker came aboard, and the one guy they won't let go is Minakov? They cut Sultan Aliev after only 2 fights and he ended up signing with the UFC later on.

 

[315MMAFighter]

Good money to be made in Russia now with fng and acb — ufc would need to throw some major $$

Well said, proper knowledge right here

 

[Evangelion]

Its called a contract bozos

 

[Jayziz]

If the UFC could get him without paying an unreasonable amount of money, I'm 100 percent certain they would have him on contract already. They have tried to get him, but it seems like he's pretty comfortable with cherry picking opponents, getting rich and fighting at home, unfortunately for us. It's a very similar situation with Mamed Khalidov and KSW.

 

[Sakuraba7]

If the UFC could get him without paying an unreasonable amount of money, I'm 100 percent certain they would have him on contract already. They have tried to get him, but it seems like he's pretty comfortable with cherry picking opponents, getting rich and fighting at home, unfortunately for us. It's a very similar situation like Khalidov and KSW.

Minakov has expressed his desire to fight in the US, even in Bellator if they just stopped being pussies about it. He's not fighting in Russia by choice. He wants to test himself.

 

[DDx2]

he doesn't have enough followers on instagram

 

[Gambit MMA]

if im an mma fighter im looking at $$$ to be made in Europe, the UFC has turned into cheap skates

 

[MemphisMafia]

I assume his contract and the fact that he is Russian and not as marketable at some loud mouth like McGregor.

 

[Post 2 Decision]

Same reason why Russian hockey players go back or stay in Russia. The Russians can afford to pay their top guys more while paying everyone one else less

 

[Jayziz]

Minakov has expressed his desire to fight in the US, even in Bellator if they just stopped being pussies about it. He's not fighting in Russia by choice. He wants to test himself.

Perhaps I was a little too harsh with my choice of words, but as far as I've understood his situation he went to Russia because of a contract dispute with Bellator. To me that indicates that there was more money to be made in Russia, rather than staying in Bellator. That's perfectly understandable from his perspective, but that's such a bummer for the fans when he had a belt. You are probably right that he's not as complacent as Khalidov, but the situations still seems pretty similar from UFC's standpoint. They've for sure offered more money than is the norm for a fighter from a smaller organization, except a household name like Alvarez or Gaethje.

 

[Sakuraba7]

Perhaps I was a little too harsh with my choice of words, but as far as I've understood his situation he went to Russia because of a contract dispute with Bellator. To me that indicates that there was more money to be made in Russia, rather than staying in Bellator. That's perfectly understandable from his perspective, but that's such a bummer for the fans when he had a belt. You are probably right that he's not as complacent as Khalidov, but the situations still seems pretty similar from UFC's standpoint. They've for sure offered more money than is the norm for a fighter from a smaller organization, except a household name like Alvarez or Gaethje.

Bellator should let him go. Whether its the Russian promotions paying more money or the UFC, its obvious Bellator isn't paying him jack but they've gotten him leashed, so he can't compete anywhere else.

 

[PeterGriffin]

Long story short, Bellator isn't stupid.

 

[Meathead Jock]

Makes good (by even UFC standards) money, gets to do it in his home country, assumes less risk, is treated like a star instead of a contender.

If you don't have a massive ego, the UFC isn't always the best place to be.

 

[Wogman]

He needs to come UFC, he would be a big time fighter their, but then again, if he is doing good financially then who gives a shit about the UFC

 

[heohanwuoc]

Cant fight without PEDs just like some of Bellator stars (Phil Davis,Bader,Chandler,Chael...)
We all know Bellator testing system is a joke
You looked like an old man in the UFC, you went to Bellator and you have six pack
Bader, Phil Davis, Chael's performance is 10x better when they came to Bellator