Yair Rodriguez opens up about abrupt departure from UFC

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“I got to talk to (UFC matchmaker) Sean Shelby and I told him I was able to fight Josh Emmett in February in Orlando, Florida, to headline that event (UFC on FOX 28),” Rodriguez explained Monday on The MMA Hour. “And I accepted. I stepped up, and I learned that Josh Emmett wouldn’t accept the fight, or I don’t know if the UFC didn’t want to give it to me or whatever, then I was replaced with Jeremy Stephens. Jeremy Stephens took that fight.


“Then, after that, we sat again with the UFC and talked about a few other opponents. I talked to Sean Shelby and he told me, ‘What do you have in your mind?’ I told him I think I at least deserve a top 10 [opponent]. No matter what happens, I think I deserve a top 10 [opponent] just because of what I already showed in the UFC. I’m 6-1 in the UFC. Not all the fighters in the UFC have the same record as me. I know I’m still a rising star for the sport or whatever, but I know I have done a lot already. I know [how many] fans I have inside the sport and I don’t think I have to show anybody that I’m not afraid.”

https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/5/...guez-opens-up-about-abrupt-departure-from-ufc
 
Its such a weird cut.
 
I don't believe him. He was a popular fighter with sa good record and he wasn't that expensive. Why would the UFC cut him without cause? There are no positives to getting rid of a cheap, entertaining and keen fighter.

If he was so openly willing to fight these guys in the manner that he claims to be so keen to fight, he would still be employed.

He is also claiming that after suffering a bad loss against the first well ranked guy he went up against, tothave accepted a big fight, then upon being offered a lower ranked and lesser known opponent (although a dangerous one) that it was a good point to start renegotiating his contract and demanding more money?

If that is even halfway true then his management should be fired. Ridiculous.

We are either not hearing the truth, or he massively, massively misunderstood his value and started trying to be difficult with his contract when he was in absolutely no position to be doing so and was cut for being stupid and not worth the time
 
He's not directly talking about Zabit. I like Yair, but the UFC has to do something about fighters clogging up divisions to fight only when they want. Since conor there has just been too many playing sit out games for money or opportunity. And the fighters that do this have been getting really lame wins to top it off.
 
Tweak896 said:
He's not directly talking about Zabit. I like Yair, but the UFC has to do something about fighters clogging up divisions to fight only when they want. Since conor there has just been too many playing sit out games for money or opportunity. And the fighters that do this have been getting really lame wins to top it off.
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The UFC brought it on themselves.
 
Shrug. He wanted a raise. Now he’ll go to Combate and earn less.

If you have some leverage UFC will bend for you. If you don’t, they’ll treat you as shitty as they want. Apparently he had a bit less leverage than he thought he did.

The issue isn’t him or about him. The issue is bigger than him. He’s just the latest casualty.
 
It’s a massive fuck up on the UFC’s part to release Yair Rodriguez. But it’ll be an even bigger fuck up on Bellator’s part to not sign him. This is a very good prospect with a decent fan base behind him. He’s got a good style too. Coker get it done!!
 
I believe him.

What was yair’s last disclosed payout? The ufc are in a situation where they need to start making examples of fighters who start asking questions, or risk having the dam break.

I know it would be eyeopening for me, if I were a fighter, to see that I’m making 60k or so while the ufc is in the process of making upwards of 350m just in US tv rights alone.
 
GueseGuy said:
It’s a massive fuck up on the UFC’s part to release Yair Rodriguez. But it’ll be an even bigger fuck up on Bellator’s part to not sign him. This is a very good prospect with a decent fan base behind him. He’s got a good style too. Coker get it done!!
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Meh. Play dumb games win dumb prizes. If you ask for a pay raise in mid-contract coming off a loss then you deserve to get told to hit the road.
 
Yair's interview makes a lot more sense than the official UFC version of the event.
 
Zanmato said:
I don't believe him. He was a popular fighter with sa good record and he wasn't that expensive. Why would the UFC cut him without cause? There are no positives to getting rid of a cheap, entertaining and keen fighter.

If he was so openly willing to fight these guys in the manner that he claims to be so keen to fight, he would still be employed.

He is also claiming that after suffering a bad loss against the first well ranked guy he went up against, tothave accepted a big fight, then upon being offered a lower ranked and lesser known opponent (although a dangerous one) that it was a good point to start renegotiating his contract and demanding more money?

If that is even halfway true then his management should be fired. Ridiculous.

We are either not hearing the truth, or he massively, massively misunderstood his value and started trying to be difficult with his contract when he was in absolutely no position to be doing so and was cut for being stupid and not worth the time
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I believe him. For what, 20 + years of UFC or whatever they have never ever cut anyone for ducking fighters.

Now, they cut a promising, talented, young, international fighter for ducking a fighter for the first time in 20 + years?

Suddenly, they are making a stand, and they are picking Yair out of all people to make an example out of?

Lol.

It didn't make sense.

It must be true because Dana says so?

LOL.

Dana must be one of the least credible human beings in the sports, perhaps over different sports leagues as well, and they have, in the past, cut ties with high level fighters, over money issues

I believe Yair. And I also 'think' Yair didn't want none of Zabit, but no way do I believe they cut Yair for not wanting to fight him. And not sure if Lamas thing is true or not either.
 
Ufc's greed is robbing us of great match ups
 
tithas said:
Meh. Play dumb games win dumb prizes. If you ask for a pay raise in mid-contract coming off a loss then you deserve to get told to hit the road.
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Lol whatever you say!
 
GueseGuy said:
Lol whatever you say!
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Ok. To many fighters who agree to something then decide mid-agreement its not enough and try to negotiate. You negotiate when you fulfill your commitments.
 
JustOnce said:
I believe him. For what, 20 + years of UFC or whatever they have never ever cut anyone for ducking fighters.

Now, they cut a promising, talented, young, international fighter for ducking a fighter for the first time in 20 + years?

Suddenly, they are making a stand, and they are picking Yair out of all people to make an example out of?

Lol.

It didn't make sense.

It must be true because Dana says so?

LOL.

Dana must be one of the least credible human beings in the sports, perhaps over different sports leagues as well, and they have, in the past, cut ties with high level fighters, over money issues

I believe Yair. And I also 'think' Yair didn't want none of Zabit, but no way do I believe they cut Yair for not wanting to fight him. And not sure if Lamas thing is true or not either.
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Dana is caught lying on a regular basis but generally about things that benefit him or his promotion. There is literally no benefit to them in losing a fighter like Rodriguez unless he was either refusing fights or got self important. Literally there is no reason at all they would do it, and legally they can't just terminate his contract because they feel like it.

He turned fights down. Either outright or by refusing to accept a fight at his contracted rate - claiming to want more money to fight someone else. Either scenario results in him turning down fights, and so he is gone.
 
Zanmato said:
Dana is caught lying on a regular basis but generally about things that benefit him or his promotion. There is literally no benefit to them in losing a fighter like Rodriguez unless he was either refusing fights or got self important. Literally there is no reason at all they would do it, and legally they can't just terminate his contract because they feel like it.

He turned fights down. Either outright or by refusing to accept a fight at his contracted rate - claiming to want more money to fight someone else. Either scenario results in him turning down fights, and so he is gone.
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And how does cutting Yair Rodriguez benefit his promotion?

Rodriguez himself acknowledges that he was offered both of these fights but that they never happened, but gave different reasons.

"I will fight BUT/IF..." is the same as saying no. Saying you will only take a foght if you renegotiate when you are still in contract is the same as turning down a fight. It doesn't mean he is ducking anyone but he is being offered work and turning it down. Bye bye
 
tithas said:
Ok. To many fighters who agree to something then decide mid-agreement its not enough and try to negotiate. You negotiate when you fulfill your commitments.
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Except when you lose on your current contract and the ufc forces you to take a pay cut or releases you. Like Hendo and Werdum have said they like to do.

It's incredible to me that hardcore mma fans think the ufc has any honor, decency, or loyalty when they've shown over and over they don't. Then when fighters try to play hardball back the fans turn on them. Ridiculous.
 
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