Top welterweight prospect John Fitch has been dropped from the UFC. For those of us who watched Fitch war five rounds with arguably the worlds best pound for pound, George St. Pierre, in his last fight…this seems unimaginable. The UFC has always maintained a clause in each of its fighter’s contracts allowing them to drop anyone after a loss if they decide to do so. Still what could possibly prompt them to throw away a fighter of Fitch’s caliber? One who just recently garnered an even greater fan base and new found respect from all who watched his gutsy performance against St. Pierre or the string of record setting 8 straight victories he put together prior to that. I wish I could tell you an answer that made any level of sense or had some insider information that put the pieces of this puzzle together. The facts of the matter are becoming available and still no legit reasoning beyond ego and arrogance is able to be found.
Fitch claims the dispute was over his unwillingness to sign a lifetime contract to allow his name and likeness to be used in a video game the UFC is partnering with THQ to release in 2010. He also added that the issue has nothing to do with money and is much more about principle and the approach to the negotiations. Fitch has said he has never once caused any problems or issues for the UFC.
Fitch said on Hardcore Sports Radio’s “Sports Rage” Wednesday that he submitted a signed bout agreement Tuesday to fight Akihiro Gono at UFC 94 in January, but that the UFC dropped it and canceled his promotional contract as well.
Fitch went on to say, “They basically kicked the door open, guns blazing, pointed it in our face and said, ‘Sign this or you’re going to pay.” It was Fitch’s understanding that his representatives, American Kickboxing Academy, or AKA, had been given the ultimatum to agree to the lifetime deal or else, even after his reps presented a five or ten year option.
The UFC’s response has come through its only voice box, president, Dana White. White indicated to Yahoo Sports yesterday that he may be done dealing with AKA all together. This could signal the demise of contracts with high profile AKA fighters such as Josh Koscheck and Cain Velasquez.
The always brash White told Yahoo Sports Wednesday, “We’re looking for guys who want to work with us and not against us, and frankly I’m just so [expletive] sick of this [expletive] it’s not even funny.” “Affliction is still out there trying to build its company. Let [Fitch] go work with them. Let him see what he thinks of those [expletives]. [Expletive] him. These guys aren’t partners with us. [Expletive] them. All of them, every last [expletive] one of them.”
White added, “"Listen, this is just like any other job," he said.”You don’t want to work for me? There are plenty of other opportunities out there. The t-shirt guys are trying to start their own business. Get in business with them. Do it with somebody else. If you don’t want to be in business with me? Then you don’t have to be in business with me. It’s simple as that.”
Over the years, White and his business partners in the UFC, the Las Vegas Casino tycoons the Fertitta brothers were occasionally rumored to have old time ties to the Italian Mob. Whether the rumors were true or not, sure does look like they know how to make an offer you can’t refuse. Of course, you can you refuse, but then you get whacked.
