Jorge Masvidal

Recently it’s been reported that talks for Kamaru Usman versus Jorge Masvidal have stalled, and now it looks like negotiations for “Gamebred’s” next fight have jumped the rails. Not only has Masvidal made it clear he’s not happy with what the UFC’s offering him, the welterweight’s calling for his release.

Jorge Masvidal

Masvidal calls for UFC release

On Friday, Masvidal started making headlines via his Twitter account, after he claimed the UFC was offering him “half” of what he made for the Nate Diaz bout. Then the outspoken fighter tweeted out this.

“Why make me fight for half of what I made on my last fight cause the other dude can’t draw?”

“Don’t tell me about a pandemic when reports today show highest stock market has ever been. Everybody getting back to work and you buying an island. Stop playing us and the fans #theawakening”

Dana White was asked to comment on Masvidal’s tweets while speaking with the media, and the UFC President said this (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“Anybody that doesn’t want to fight doesn’t have to fight, including Masvidal and Jon Jones and all these other guys,” White said.

“It doesn’t have to be because of the pandemic. These guys are independent contractors.

This isn’t like the NFL where I can make you: ‘You come to practice and you do this or you’re going to get fined or you’re going to get this.’ These guys can do whatever they want. They can say whatever they want.

“… We’re not begging people to fight. We’re offering fights because in our contract, I have to give you three fights a year. You have the ability to turn them down and not take them.”

Well, those statements quickly got back to Masvidal, as he’s since responded with this.

“Please don’t compare us to these other leagues. I wish we can negotiate for less pay like the other leagues where the players get half the revenue they generate.

We are negotiating from like what 12% to maybe 18% of revenue we generate?

We are negotiating down from way under 50% of the revenue. I don’t get paid on the hot dog you sell in the arena or the logo on the cage.

I’ve never made a dollar on a ticket you sell. I get punched in the face for a living and even I know the pandemic or what’s left of it has nothing to do with it”

“I’m not an independent contractor if I can’t go anywhere else to make a living. Let me go and let me see if I’m worth it”

What could come of this?

Now, we’ve seen fighters in the past feud with the UFC publicly over money, but the timing here is really interesting. You have two stars in Jones and Masvidal now, who are calling for more money at the same time, and both have referenced what athletes make in other, major sports leagues.

Could we see more big-name fighters follow suit? And a long-overdue fighter union or organization materialize?

Mentioned in this article:

More About: