UFC Cuts Fitch; Koscheck, Others Could Follow
- Thread starter Shogun Locc
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Update: UFC Talking with Fitch’s Management
Jon Fitch was released from the UFC on Wednesday, but a discussion has reopened with the promotion.
Bob Cook and Zinkin Entertainment, who manage Fitch and other fighters from the American Kickboxing Academy, told Sherdog.com on Thursday afternoon that talk has resumed with the UFC, but they would not comment on the exact nature of the discussion.
Fitch told Hardcore Sports Radio’s “Sports Rage” on Wednesday that he was cut from the promotion after he’d refused to sign an agreement that would have relinquished his likeness rights for a UFC video game.
Fitch said he submitted a signed bout agreement Tuesday to fight Akihiro Gono at UFC 94 on Jan. 31, but the UFC terminated it, along with his promotional contract.
“I had two fights left on my contract, but they always put a clause in the contract that if you lose a fight, they’re able to release you at any time after a loss,” Fitch told “Sports Rage” host Gabriel Morency. “That’s pretty standard with any organization, but it’s pretty incredible that they’d go to those lengths for something like this, over a video game.”
Fitch, a Purdue University wrestling standout, said his refusal to sign the agreement for a UFC video game -- set for release by THQ in 2010 -- wasn’t based on compensation.
“The video game agreement that they have that they wanted us to sign was basically we don‘t get anything for it,” he told Morency. “We get free publicity and promotion from the game, which is great, no problem. The problem is it’s a lifetime exclusive contract. That means we would never ever be able to work with any video game companies other than the one the UFC provides.”
Fitch told Hardcore Sports Radio he was not adverse to the contract necessarily, but in the way it was presented to his management.
“They basically kicked the door open, guns blazing, pointed it in our face and said, ‘Sign this or you’re going to pay,’” Fitch said.
Fitch said that, to his knowledge, UFC President Dana White had given his representatives the ultimatum to sign or be scrapped even though the fighter’s reps tried to negotiate a five or 10-year deal for the video game rights.
In an interview with Yahoo Sports on Wednesday, White said the UFC would no longer do business with the American Kickboxing Academy, Fitch’s San Jose-based fight team.
“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,” White told Yahoo Sports. “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.”
Christian Wellisch, an AKA teammate of Fitch, was also released on Wednesday, said Fitch. Wellisch had also received an agreement for a pending bout that was later retracted.
“They cut him from the organization first, I think as kind of a scare for me and [Josh] Koscheck and Cain [Velasquez],” said Fitch. “I guess Cain Velasquez wouldn’t sign under his contract and they we’re saying that after his fight he was done and they weren’t going to re-up his contract. I think the same thing goes for Koscheck. I think they would drop him right now too, if he wasn’t fighting on the 10th, if he wasn’t headlining that show –- so they can’t drop him.”
Koscheck faces Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC “Fight for the Troops” on Dec. 10 at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C.
Fitch had won eight straight fights before dropping a gutsy decision to St. Pierre. His undefeated run tied Royce Gracie’s for the most consecutive wins in the UFC.
With his dismissal, Fitch said he will likely lose 75-80 percent of his sponsorship monies. Earlier this year, Fitch and other AKA fighters were asked by the UFC to sign a separate merchandising agreement in perpetuity. Many of the squad declined the offer.
“I never wanted anything more than to fight in the UFC and be a UFC champ,” said Fitch. “I put in a lot of blood and guts and sweat and tears into this and this is my reward I guess.”
Jon Fitch was released from the UFC on Wednesday, but a discussion has reopened with the promotion.
Bob Cook and Zinkin Entertainment, who manage Fitch and other fighters from the American Kickboxing Academy, told Sherdog.com on Thursday afternoon that talk has resumed with the UFC, but they would not comment on the exact nature of the discussion.
Fitch told Hardcore Sports Radio’s “Sports Rage” on Wednesday that he was cut from the promotion after he’d refused to sign an agreement that would have relinquished his likeness rights for a UFC video game.
Fitch said he submitted a signed bout agreement Tuesday to fight Akihiro Gono at UFC 94 on Jan. 31, but the UFC terminated it, along with his promotional contract.
“I had two fights left on my contract, but they always put a clause in the contract that if you lose a fight, they’re able to release you at any time after a loss,” Fitch told “Sports Rage” host Gabriel Morency. “That’s pretty standard with any organization, but it’s pretty incredible that they’d go to those lengths for something like this, over a video game.”
Fitch, a Purdue University wrestling standout, said his refusal to sign the agreement for a UFC video game -- set for release by THQ in 2010 -- wasn’t based on compensation.
“The video game agreement that they have that they wanted us to sign was basically we don‘t get anything for it,” he told Morency. “We get free publicity and promotion from the game, which is great, no problem. The problem is it’s a lifetime exclusive contract. That means we would never ever be able to work with any video game companies other than the one the UFC provides.”
Fitch told Hardcore Sports Radio he was not adverse to the contract necessarily, but in the way it was presented to his management.
“They basically kicked the door open, guns blazing, pointed it in our face and said, ‘Sign this or you’re going to pay,’” Fitch said.
Fitch said that, to his knowledge, UFC President Dana White had given his representatives the ultimatum to sign or be scrapped even though the fighter’s reps tried to negotiate a five or 10-year deal for the video game rights.
In an interview with Yahoo Sports on Wednesday, White said the UFC would no longer do business with the American Kickboxing Academy, Fitch’s San Jose-based fight team.
“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,” White told Yahoo Sports. “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.”
Christian Wellisch, an AKA teammate of Fitch, was also released on Wednesday, said Fitch. Wellisch had also received an agreement for a pending bout that was later retracted.
“They cut him from the organization first, I think as kind of a scare for me and [Josh] Koscheck and Cain [Velasquez],” said Fitch. “I guess Cain Velasquez wouldn’t sign under his contract and they we’re saying that after his fight he was done and they weren’t going to re-up his contract. I think the same thing goes for Koscheck. I think they would drop him right now too, if he wasn’t fighting on the 10th, if he wasn’t headlining that show –- so they can’t drop him.”
Koscheck faces Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC “Fight for the Troops” on Dec. 10 at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C.
Fitch had won eight straight fights before dropping a gutsy decision to St. Pierre. His undefeated run tied Royce Gracie’s for the most consecutive wins in the UFC.
With his dismissal, Fitch said he will likely lose 75-80 percent of his sponsorship monies. Earlier this year, Fitch and other AKA fighters were asked by the UFC to sign a separate merchandising agreement in perpetuity. Many of the squad declined the offer.
“I never wanted anything more than to fight in the UFC and be a UFC champ,” said Fitch. “I put in a lot of blood and guts and sweat and tears into this and this is my reward I guess.”
Thats the thing. They will lose most of these endorsements if not all of them when they're released by the UFC.
Plus, why would anyone ever want to give away lifetime rights to their likeness ?
That is idiotic. And for what the UFC is offering in return, its downright robbery.
These fighters aren't living as lavish as you think, and only the very few at the top of the game are really financially comfortable, once you take into account their costs ie managers, trainers, etc.
Plus, why would anyone ever want to give away lifetime rights to their likeness ?
That is idiotic. And for what the UFC is offering in return, its downright robbery.
These fighters aren't living as lavish as you think, and only the very few at the top of the game are really financially comfortable, once you take into account their costs ie managers, trainers, etc.
YEAH BUT IT DONT MEAN IT'S GOOD BIZ.
THE FIGHTERS ARE THE ONES WHO SACRIFICE, GET INJURED, AND EXPOSE THEMSELVES. NOT THE COMPANY AND WITHOUT THE FIGHTERS, THE UFC WOULDNT BE SHIT.
WHATS WRONG WITH TREATING PEOPLE WITH RESPECT? ESPECIALLY IF THEY PUT THEMSELVES ON THE LINE FOR THE COMPANY, WITHOUT MUCH PAY OR COMPENSATION. YEAH THEY GET SPONSORED BUT IT ALSO HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE UFC. AND NOW THEY WANT THEM TO SIGN THEIR LIKENESSES FOR LIFE. YOU DONT SEE WHATS WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE???
THE FIGHTERS ARE THE ONES WHO SACRIFICE, GET INJURED, AND EXPOSE THEMSELVES. NOT THE COMPANY AND WITHOUT THE FIGHTERS, THE UFC WOULDNT BE SHIT.
WHATS WRONG WITH TREATING PEOPLE WITH RESPECT? ESPECIALLY IF THEY PUT THEMSELVES ON THE LINE FOR THE COMPANY, WITHOUT MUCH PAY OR COMPENSATION. YEAH THEY GET SPONSORED BUT IT ALSO HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE UFC. AND NOW THEY WANT THEM TO SIGN THEIR LIKENESSES FOR LIFE. YOU DONT SEE WHATS WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE???
Like I said. These UFC fighters need to come together and for some type of a Fighters Association, to avoid getting jerked like this.
Really, if they're united, the ball is in their court. These big name fighters are why people tune in, not because its a UFC event, but because who's fighting in it. Just look at the first Affliction card. Its success was for the most part built on the star power of Fedor.
Really, if they're united, the ball is in their court. These big name fighters are why people tune in, not because its a UFC event, but because who's fighting in it. Just look at the first Affliction card. Its success was for the most part built on the star power of Fedor.
that is true tho............. a lotta these young guys deserve a little more money........ but then theres retards like war machine (koppenhaven) who talk a bunch of shit thinkin their are on top and deserve these big ass fights.... but get choked out in 3 seconds by a ufc rookie....... so i mean i kno their can be some kind of agreement but these young guys also gotta realize they aint these big ass stars all of the sudden...
Jon Fitch claims Dana White is not telling the whole story about Mike Swick; accuses the UFC of strong-arm tactics during negotiations
Former UFC welterweight Jon Fitch was a guest during Thursday’s edition of Fight Network Radio with Mauro Ranallo and responded to a series of public comments that UFC president Dana White has made regarding his release from the organization.
When asked if he felt the UFC was making a power play against his trainers and managers, Fitch was clear in stating that he felt that was precisely the case.
“It’s 100 percent a power play,” Fitch told Ranallo. “Our management team is one of the toughest and best management teams out there. Honestly a lot other management teams look to us as far as what we’re doing and what we’re saying about other contracts and he knows that. So his answer is to shut down that management team.”
Fitch was adamant his belief the the UFC is taking punitive action against his trainers and managers at the American Kickboxing Academy and his agents at Zinkin Entertainment.
“They are coming out and they are trying to break us,” Fitch continued. “They are trying to break Zinkin Entertainment and get us to jump off a ship. They are trying to send a message to the rest of the (fighters) out there.”
While White has stated publicly that he has nothing against personal against Fitch and that the decision to release him was a business move against AKA and Zinkin, Fitch feels otherwise.
“It’s 100 percent personal,” the former welterweight title challenger said. “They are making an example of me because I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m the perfect example of what a UFC fighter should be; someone who goes out there ad lays it on the line (and) fights their ass off. I never say anything negative about the company. I always put a positive light on everything and anything that has happened to me. Even the s— (about) getting left at the airport from the first season of The Ultimate Fighter; not being shown on the main cards; (and) not getting some of the best fights…”
Fitch has also heard some of White’s public responses and the former Purdue wrestler feels there are some credibility issues in what the UFC president is saying. He specifically took issue with White’s position that fellow AKA member Mike Swick is siding against his teammates.
“Dana is saying ‘Oh Swick said he doesn’t care what his manager said’ or whatever,” began Fitch. “No Swick has a special deal with the video game agreements and a some of this other stuff. A lot of these guys that he says he doesn’t have a problem with are guys that got special contracts along the way. They don’t have the same contracts as everybody else. They get special things, which is fine, and I’m not even asking for those things… The only thing that we stated and stated over time is that we don’t want to sign lifetime contracts.”
Some of the most telling comments of the interview came when Fitch indicated that he and his management team were the apparent victim of strong-arm tactics during negotiations.
“(Dana White) said in the process of the threats that they were making about us signing this video game agreement,” he said. “He made those threats. ‘What are you going to do? Where are you going to go? Good luck trying to fight somewhere else.’ This was in the process of the negotiating. This is what he was saying to us.”
But Fitch’s most intriguing revelation came when he said that his management actually advised him to sign away his likeness and that it was his decision and his decision alone not to ink the deal.
“He tries to blame this and put this off on management but my management was telling me to sign this video game deal. But out of principle, I didn’t. It’s on me, not on my management.”
Former UFC welterweight Jon Fitch was a guest during Thursday’s edition of Fight Network Radio with Mauro Ranallo and responded to a series of public comments that UFC president Dana White has made regarding his release from the organization.
When asked if he felt the UFC was making a power play against his trainers and managers, Fitch was clear in stating that he felt that was precisely the case.
“It’s 100 percent a power play,” Fitch told Ranallo. “Our management team is one of the toughest and best management teams out there. Honestly a lot other management teams look to us as far as what we’re doing and what we’re saying about other contracts and he knows that. So his answer is to shut down that management team.”
Fitch was adamant his belief the the UFC is taking punitive action against his trainers and managers at the American Kickboxing Academy and his agents at Zinkin Entertainment.
“They are coming out and they are trying to break us,” Fitch continued. “They are trying to break Zinkin Entertainment and get us to jump off a ship. They are trying to send a message to the rest of the (fighters) out there.”
While White has stated publicly that he has nothing against personal against Fitch and that the decision to release him was a business move against AKA and Zinkin, Fitch feels otherwise.
“It’s 100 percent personal,” the former welterweight title challenger said. “They are making an example of me because I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m the perfect example of what a UFC fighter should be; someone who goes out there ad lays it on the line (and) fights their ass off. I never say anything negative about the company. I always put a positive light on everything and anything that has happened to me. Even the s— (about) getting left at the airport from the first season of The Ultimate Fighter; not being shown on the main cards; (and) not getting some of the best fights…”
Fitch has also heard some of White’s public responses and the former Purdue wrestler feels there are some credibility issues in what the UFC president is saying. He specifically took issue with White’s position that fellow AKA member Mike Swick is siding against his teammates.
“Dana is saying ‘Oh Swick said he doesn’t care what his manager said’ or whatever,” began Fitch. “No Swick has a special deal with the video game agreements and a some of this other stuff. A lot of these guys that he says he doesn’t have a problem with are guys that got special contracts along the way. They don’t have the same contracts as everybody else. They get special things, which is fine, and I’m not even asking for those things… The only thing that we stated and stated over time is that we don’t want to sign lifetime contracts.”
Some of the most telling comments of the interview came when Fitch indicated that he and his management team were the apparent victim of strong-arm tactics during negotiations.
“(Dana White) said in the process of the threats that they were making about us signing this video game agreement,” he said. “He made those threats. ‘What are you going to do? Where are you going to go? Good luck trying to fight somewhere else.’ This was in the process of the negotiating. This is what he was saying to us.”
But Fitch’s most intriguing revelation came when he said that his management actually advised him to sign away his likeness and that it was his decision and his decision alone not to ink the deal.
“He tries to blame this and put this off on management but my management was telling me to sign this video game deal. But out of principle, I didn’t. It’s on me, not on my management.”
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/11/20/jon-fitch-back-in-the-ufc/
Jon Fitch back in the UFC
November 20, 2008 by Staff
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Just shy of a day after the reported dismissal of Jon Fitch by the UFC, It appear the two have come to an agreement and the top 5 welterweight has returned to the company.
The news was first reported by MMARated this afternoon.
It is being reported that Fitch spoke with UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta this afternoon and the parties managed to resolve their differeneces, and the fighter will signed the much talked about video game licensing agreement.
Fitch still stands by his assertion that he didn’t appreciate the way Dana White treated the fighter when attempting to negotiate a deal for video game licensing.
At this point everything appears to be resolved and the scheduled fight with Akihiro Gono at UFC 94 appears to be back on.
Jon Fitch back in the UFC
November 20, 2008 by Staff
Leave a comment
Just shy of a day after the reported dismissal of Jon Fitch by the UFC, It appear the two have come to an agreement and the top 5 welterweight has returned to the company.
The news was first reported by MMARated this afternoon.
It is being reported that Fitch spoke with UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta this afternoon and the parties managed to resolve their differeneces, and the fighter will signed the much talked about video game licensing agreement.
Fitch still stands by his assertion that he didn’t appreciate the way Dana White treated the fighter when attempting to negotiate a deal for video game licensing.
At this point everything appears to be resolved and the scheduled fight with Akihiro Gono at UFC 94 appears to be back on.
^ Thats mostly because there's not really anything else to compare it to on that scale.
I know its apples and oranges, but boxers on Friday Night Fights are making what the top UFC fighters are making, and when the UFC is getting as many if not more PPV buys than boxing per year, people start to question it...but really, what can you compare it to...?
Nothing really. So they either put up or shut up.
I know its apples and oranges, but boxers on Friday Night Fights are making what the top UFC fighters are making, and when the UFC is getting as many if not more PPV buys than boxing per year, people start to question it...but really, what can you compare it to...?
Nothing really. So they either put up or shut up.
yeah i get what youre saying and im not talking about pay being too high or low. im just saying you never hear fighters talk about. other than huerta and coutore. every fan on every internet message board has an opinion though.
we only know what is reported to us as pay and those fight bonuses they give out. we dont know how much each one makes from sponsors or under the table.
we only know what is reported to us as pay and those fight bonuses they give out. we dont know how much each one makes from sponsors or under the table.