Bellator Champ Eddie Alvarez Talks About the UFC
by Nate Wilcox on Apr 4, 2011 6:56 PM EDT
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Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez just defended his title against Pat Curran at Bellator 39. At #6 on the USAT/SBN Consensus MMA Rankings, he's one of the most highly ranked fighters not currently under contract to Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC.
He recently spoke to ESPN's Josh Gross (audio file) about his decision-making in staying with Bellator and not jumping to the UFC (transcription via Fight Opinion):
"It means I'm still somewhat in-disposable. If I was among that group, I'd be disposable immediately the day that my contract was taken over by Zuffa, so... I feel like I still can have some sort of say with where my career goes and what sponsors I want to get and whether I want to be in a video game or not. There's a lot of things. The whole signing with Zuffa thing is a big control issue with me and I don't know, I just... I'm happy that they're doing what they're doing but right now I don't know if it's the right move for me."
Mr. Alvarez tried to walk a fine line but remain honest about his feelings regarding the UFC."I don't think they're doing anything wrong. I think they're running their business the way they are supposed to. But my issue with it is the way fighters lose one or two fights and they're fired and, not only that, there is no like, it's not like a union like the NFL, the NBA, and these other sports where the finances are regulated and you have to receive a minimum in order to be a part of that league. Like NFL, I don't know, maybe you have to receive half a million dollars per year just to play in the NFL or maybe a quarter of a million. The UFC's not like that. They can offer someone, you know, $5,000 and $5,000, the guy can fight at first and get his face broken to pieces and then he can totally put on a poor performance and then get fired. That scares me. I would like to be paid like an athlete and, I don't know. I guess I have a lot of issues with it and when I was, I believe when I was ranked #2 in the world, I was offered something from the UFC but it was significantly lower than what I was getting paid at that time, almost like insultingly low and I just, it wasn't the right move for me at that time. I have no qualms, I like the UFC, Dana White does a great job with them and they're definitely the biggest stage on Earth. And if I fight there some day, then great, but right now I think I'm where I'm supposed to be at."
"No, I think Dana realizes, you know, the type of person I am and he's seen me fight and I think he knows, you know, I don't take anything he says or doesn't say about me to heart. He's been in a number of interviews where he discredits my abilities and I understand why. I'm not mad at him. I'm not mad at him about it, I understand why he would discredit anything that I do. I don't work for him. But, you know, this is a business, man, so I mean I don't expect him to get emotional and say, ‘Let's never hire this kid because whatever.' I don't badmouth the UFC, it's just not the right move for me right now."
...
"It would be great to fight them guys but at what cost, you know what I mean? At what cost to me? Do I have to, what measures do I have to take in order to fight them guys? Do I have to take an $80,000 pay cut? Do I have give up all my, every single ancillary right I can dream of? Do I have to, you know, now I can't get certain sponsors that I want to get certain sponsors that I want to get because I have to pay the UFC before they pay me? There's a lot of issues involved and I don't know if people understand that. And if I was 20 years old and I was single and I had no kids, I would jump to the UFC tomorrow. But the reality is (that) I have three kids and I have a family to take care of and everything has to line up. Yeah, I want to be #1 in the world but I also want to be able to maintain a home for my family so I can't tell my wife and kids, ‘hey, Daddy's going to take a huge risk and this may not work and hopefully we do well.' Like, I can't tell my kids that. I got to tell them that I'm going to work hard and I'm going to get compensated correctly for my hard work and that's all I really ask for."
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Glad he is happy and doing what he wants but....
…you eventually have to step up and play with the big boys
Says who?
Depends on what your goal is.
None more gangster.
Tweeter!
by alicks on Apr 4, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agreed.
Also, Frankie Edgar is Alvarez’ main training partner, and I don’t think he’d want to make a UFC run until:
1) Frankie was somehow completely out of the title picture. Think, Gray Maynard just destroys him in the rubber match, or
2) Bellator went out of business, or completely ran out of decent fighters for him.
Here’s a quote from him a while back that sums it up:
We say that me & Frankie are both No. 1 in the world. There’s no conflict of interest. We have different goals. Frankie wants to be No. 1 in his promotion, the UFC. I want to be No. 1 in the world outside of the UFC. No. 1 out of all the other promotions. So we have no conflicting goals. We’re taking ourselves and separating ourselves from the pack. You’re going to have a whole lot of 155-pounders at one level, and we’re pushing each other to separate ourselves from the rest of them. As long as I’m not in UFC and going for the gold, and he’s not outside of the UFC, there’s no conflict of interest at all… I wouldn’t have a problem fighting Frankie, and I don’t think Frankie would have a problem fighting me. We fight each other every week, make each other better every week. If it came down to it and Dana [White] said, ‘Frankie we need you to fight this guy’, do I think Frankie would do it? I think Frankie would be for it and I’d be for it as long as the money was there. But I’m never going to say, ‘Frankie, I want your spot, I want your job.’ And I hope he never says that to me. There’s a ton of other guys out there for me to prove myself against.
http://www.headkicklegend.com/
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Apr 5, 2011 3:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
I though his whole point was that he does not have to do that
Conducting an experiment on knocking people out in particular ways would be unethical.
You assume that commenters are actually reading more than the headline.
I expect at least 30 comments along the lines of “what a pussy lol he couldnt make it in the ufc”
"[UFC]’s a great rush, eh? It makes your sphincter get real tight." - Harold Howard
by lowellthehammer on Apr 4, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
i would never assume such a ridiculous thing :p
Conducting an experiment on knocking people out in particular ways would be unethical.
I don't blame him
for wanting to hold on to what security he has… but the reality is, he’s just two or three loses from losing his contract with Bellator. It’s the way the game is played; if you lose too many in a row, your released. It’s business, and yes that’s very hard to deal with if you prefer security. But if you prefer security, your in the wrong business all together….
I can respect, however, him staying with Bellator if UFC truly offered him 80k less than his current purse (or somewhere there abouts). The UFC is the big show, and even though they will pay out the most to its finest, it’s a hard gamble when your already making good money. At least with Bellator he has a good 3 fight safety net at the moment. Talk all you want, but family should come first, and I don’t blame him for looking after his kids well being…
That all being said… I must say, if he truly feels confident in himself… I mean, if he TRULY believes he is number one… then he owes it to himself to take the leap. You can not justify not trying because your afraid to lose… not if your claiming you have the ability to be number one. Someone who truly believed in himself should try… but again, I don’t blame him if UFC is strongly undercutting his contract offer. I know it’s business, but the UFC gets enough of my money to conduct business a litter fairer.
by theratheofwar on Apr 5, 2011 3:16 AM EDT up reply actions
ehhh . . . I think you’re missing his point.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Apr 4, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Then maybe they should pay him like the big boys.
Why would he take a paycut with a lot of risk just to legitimize his ranking? Makes zero business sense.
Yep
If they can pay James Toney $500,000 then they can match what Bellator is paying him. The problem is that Frankie will get pissed since I think he’s still getting something like $40/40K
Jesus, can you imagine how pissed those guys are
How would you like to be a Jon Finch or Kampman, knowing you have a better chance of beating Randy blindfolded, than James Toney. And this guy comes in and make what you make in 10 fights, for less than a minute of ‘work’. I mean, what if he didn’t even train? Would anybody have noticed a difference? He could of just woke up that day, walked to the arena, tapped out, got paid 500k, and enjoyed the rest of his evening.
"Look man I don't know, I swear to god" "SWEAR-TO-MEEE!!!!" - Batman
True
But the reason he can do that is he’s put in 20 years of hard work at the top level of boxing to build a name for himself.
I come in earlier and leave later than my boss – but he gets paid more than double what I do. Why?
You better take a look at his resume. I would like to see Alvarez in the UFC, fighting Penn, Maynard, Pettis, but he is still fighting some of the best LW from outside Zuffa, and some interesting up-and-coming guys with brilliant future, who everyone wants to see tested (Curran, now Freire). With each showing he just looks more and more well rounded, and so technical.
The guy is enjoying a contract he deserves, without imposed restrictions, giving him the opportunity to planify his schedule correctly. And he is still facing credible challenges and putting on great fights. Not everybody has to be under Zuffa to be relevant
by Carlos Estrada-Ibars Martínez on Apr 4, 2011 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Sports are about legacy
Eddie is a very good fighter and a possible champion in the UFC. If he is happy fighting in Bellator good for him, but beating guys several notches below you gets old after a while.
Sports are about legacy to you. To him, sports are about doing what you love while drawing an acceptable paycheck (or so it seems).
None more gangster.
Tweeter!
by alicks on Apr 4, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
Pretty much.
Sports are just as much a business as being an insurance broker.
I am not going to take a paycut to work with a better insurance broker with more risk in my job.
The Right Business Move Is the UFC
If he fights in the UFC and gets some wins under his belt his Marketability as a UFC VETERAN goes through the roof. Then if he loses he can drop down to other shows if he gets cut and command more than others.
If he loses in Bellator then he has absolutely NOTHING! The UFC won’t sign a Bellator loser and Japan doesn’t exist anymore MMA wise. Eddie needs to do the right thing for his Family and go to the UFC immediately
I am vorn the unspeakable the skulls of those who defy me bleach in the suns of hundreds of worlds...... and you are
Maybe he likes to fight and make a really good living fighting. He’s not the first fighter to complain about the comparatively lower contract that the UFC offers some fighters. And he’s not the first fighter to complain about control of his ancillary rights.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Apr 4, 2011 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions
did you read the article?
Being a professional is about maximizing opportunity and making money
by Austin Martin on Apr 4, 2011 3:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Is he maximizing opportunity and money fighting guys who have no business in there with him in Bellator under a even stricter Bellator contract? How much is Bellator paying him?
You seem to be missing the point repeatedly.
by someguy22 on Apr 4, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Good For Alvarez
I truly hope that Bellator will remain successful with MTV2. Well I did state the same sentiment for Strikeforce.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Apr 4, 2011 3:41 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Ruiner
Why I never joined a frat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-KNVrZaN8M
"Don’t quote old fucks to me" – Brent Brookhouse
"A samurai would bite your cock off if you tried that shit on the battlefield." - Kid Nate
Alvarez is 100% correct
He is doing the smart thing. He gains nothing unless he goes to the UFC and wins the title. If he does anything less, he’s probably making similar money.
He is worth a lot to Bellator and worth very little to the UFC, that’s just the way it is. Eddie is a very big draw for Bellator , but that doesn’t say much. He is basically an unknown in the USA when compared to a UFC fighter and so he is not worth a big paycheck yet from the UFC.
by Bob Loblaw TX on Apr 4, 2011 3:42 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Alvarez is taking a bigger risk with Bellator
If he fights in the UFC and gets some wins under his belt his Marketability as a UFC VETERAN goes through the roof. Then if he loses he can drop down to other shows if he gets cut and command more $$ than others.
If he loses in Bellator then he has absolutely NOTHING! The UFC won’t sign a Bellator loser and Japan doesn’t exist anymore MMA wise. Eddie needs to do the right thing for his Family and go to the UFC immediately
I am vorn the unspeakable the skulls of those who defy me bleach in the suns of hundreds of worlds...... and you are
But with the KO bonuses and locker room bonuses you'd make more money if you just played the game, Eddie!
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Apr 4, 2011 3:42 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
what you did there
I see it
"True strength is not always shown through victory. Stand up, try again and display strength of heart." - Rickson Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Apr 4, 2011 4:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He makes some good points
but I just can’t imagine Bellator paying him better than the UFC. I’m not sure but I bet the sponsors will pay more for a fighter in the UFC than Bellator too.
I think it would be worth the risk to jump ship to the UFC, mainly because he can probably make more money there and if he loses he can always just go back to Bellator.
If he loses in the UFC, who says they’d want him back in Bellator? Or at the very least, who says they’d want him back in Bellator at the same price? He gets handed a few bad losses in the UFC, suddenly he’s damaged goods and he’s not worth nearly as much to Bjorn as he was before.
None more gangster.
Tweeter!
Really?
Small venues tend to have one or two guys they shell out for and try and put fighters around them who can at least compete but at a smaller rate.
Look at what Strikeforce did. They had a few high contract fighters and a bunch of guys who might compete with them but paid peanuts.
I assume Bellator is the same way. I have no doubt that they could afford to pay one or two of their guys more than what the UFC could and would offer.
Worth the risk?
Why would you want to risk losing sponsors?
Many fighters have lost sponsors because some sponsors can not afford to sponsor a fighter in the UFC.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Apr 4, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
True
but i’m pretty sure he can get other sponsors since he’s a top ranked fighter especially if was fighting in the UFC. Sponsors will pay more money for fighters in the UFC than a fighter in Bellator simply they will get more coverage in the UFC.
Bellator is averaging like 150k viewers since jumping to MTV2, a Spike TV fight night can have like ten times that.
But being “pretty sure” he can get a sponsor doesn’t mean much. “Pretty sure” doesn’t pay the rent.
And again, if he goes and fights in the UFC and his record takes a hit, that means lower spots on the card > less exposure > less sponsorship money.
None more gangster.
Tweeter!
Good one. It’s not that simple. Something tells me that some of the WEC guys probably lost in some ways.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Apr 4, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
That's why I said take the risk
Take the chance to make more money and make a better living. And have you ever seen a fighter in the UFC without a sponsor? The only fighter i’ve ever seen without a sponsor was Roger Gracie.
The main reason why i’m saying he should take the risk is because Bellator is doing fucking terrible, and there is no certainty that they will be around forever. After the UFC bought out Strikeforce and Japanese mma being frozen there aren’t really many options other than regional shows.
I'd still bet that
it would be more than what the sponsors are paying for someone fighting in Bellator
Waylon Lowe had non vs. Chiquerim.
That’s just the first one off the top of my head, there are others who are criminally underrepresented.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Apr 4, 2011 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I remember Mitrione having barely
he blamed that on his former manager who he hired last minute though. It’s up to a fighter and their manager to actually get the sponsorships.
I agree
Maybe if he makes a good amount of money w/ Bellator, maybe saving enough to take the risk of jumping ship to the UFC and perhaps it not being such a huge risk. But then again, should he get ass fucked by the judges against someone like Guida or Sherk and have his record take a hit, maybe that’s not worth it to him. Who knows where he’ll be on the payscale should he return to Bellator at that point.
It’s true that he won’t have much option if Bellator goes under but until that happens Bellator will remain the better option in terms of income. It doesn’t make that much sense to abandon that option when he doesn’t have to. Make the most he can make now then move to the UFC when there’s nothing left out there.
The guy has a family, getting a pay cut and the risk of not regaining back his old income is not worth it.
The main reason why i’m saying he should take the risk is because Bellator is doing fucking terrible, and there is no certainty that they will be around forever.
So if he wants to keep fighting for them until they go away…why does that matter? The UFC will still be there.
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 4, 2011 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
After watching his last fight, he made the right decision by not signing with the UFC. He is top 10 obviously but #1? No way.
I bet you said the same thing about Pacquiao after the Clottey fight.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Apr 4, 2011 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
He broke Huerta's face the fight before that
Contributor at cagepages.com Come check us out.
Head Kick Legend
?
Did you not just read this article? Sometimes I despair.
Let me translate – Pay me what I’m worth. Afford me some security. Let’s play ball, I have kids to feed. I know your the best. But I will not lie prostrate for you to dump all over me at this point in time.
Happy to be of service.
by Mr. Braun on Apr 4, 2011 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 7 recs
What's he's worth?!
What’s that number? Who cares if he is in the UFC or not. Only the hardcore fans know who is maybe 125K that are watching Bellator. What does he bring to the table? He is a weight class full with crazy gifted athletics the deepest division in the UFC Why should they pay him if hasn’t proved himself in the octagon?
Great piece.
Really like hearing fighters comments about contracts and such. The business side of MMA is very, very intriguing to me and I wish we heard more about it. I mean, guys in the UFC aren’t going to talk about it for the most part, but it’s refreshing hearing the business side from someone who has had to weigh the options like Eddie.
He brings a great point up about a union, as well. There really should be a minimum contract guys can sign that is much bigger than the peanuts some of the lower level UFC guys get now. If I remember correctly, the fighters receive a fairly large amount LESS, percentage wise of revenue, compared to other major sports.
Something eventually will change (I would be shocked if we didn’t see a union at some point).
White and the Fertitas have publicly that they’re open to a union but they’re not going to put efforts into starting one. That’s up to the fighters.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Apr 4, 2011 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I wonder who would be down to actually start the work to make one
Maybe Couture after he retires? I would assume that it would be a former champ.
He had leverage, the opportunity, etc. He doesn’t want that responsibility.
Matt Lindland would but Dana just doesn’t like him.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Apr 4, 2011 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
True
Couture is already thinking about making more movies after his Machida fight. Maybe Hughes? He seems like a decent guy who cares about what happens to other fighters. If not a former champ I could see a coach like Jackson doing it too.
He terrorized his parents and his entire home town for years
Possibly even statu raped a girl. He’s far from a decent guy, imo
"Look man I don't know, I swear to god" "SWEAR-TO-MEEE!!!!" - Batman
His brother supposedly kissed an underage girl. That’s not even close to the same thing, and the rumor train has run outta control on that one. And again, it wasn’t even him.
Still a Beer Monster.
http://www.instrength.com
Thats very far from what I've read if true.
My understanding is that there was some really intimidated girl, who was underage, too scared to say no, cried the entire time, type of thing…. you got a link? I’d really like to know if I despise this guy for the right reasons
"Look man I don't know, I swear to god" "SWEAR-TO-MEEE!!!!" - Batman
It’s from Matt’s book. He told the story himself. After his book came out, a laundry list of completely incorrect and inflammatory things he “did wrong” was spread around, none of it having any basis in fact. I’m no Matt Hughes fan, but the idea of stat rape is ridiculous, unless there’s some real story out there I’m not aware of.
Still a Beer Monster.
http://www.instrength.com
Of course they'd say that
However aren’t the Fertitas casinos in some stuff because they were trying to bust up a union there?
It’s doubtful anything will change. Boxing undercards are full of people fighting for way less than the UFC pays the low guys. And thats been going on for decades.
Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 4, 2011 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I knew that would come in handy! I have the damn link copied and pasted so I can drop it on people when they say it.
Still a Beer Monster.
http://www.instrength.com
Maybe its because its not what I wanted to hear from Eddie
but I believe if he is confident in his abilities to eventually be #1 he shouldn’t be saying how much of a cut and risk it is to be in the UFC. Even if he is never #1 I am sure the UFC will pay good money on his performances, he has a great marketable style and really needs to move to a bigger pond.
Well I hope Gilbert makes the move soon.
So you're saying Eddie should just say, "Pay me whatever you want"?
This is a great business move on his end if he wants to go to the UFC eventually. He has now put it out in public that they haven’t offered him anything enticing and that he has very cold feet about it. The UFC can either pay up and bring him in (which they should do as they make money hand over fist) or continue to miss out on a top 5 LW.
by Jonathan. on Apr 4, 2011 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
This makes sense to me
Frankly, when Eddie does go over to the UFC, Jake Shields is going to wish he had taken the same approach.
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
Gilbert is now in the bigger pond even if he’s not in the UFC. Time will tell. Zuffa can easily disolve SF’s lightweight division because . . . well, they don’t have a lot of fighters there.
and really needs to move to a bigger pond.
- Choice 1: Work for the bigger, prestigious company, lose control of career and make less money.
- Choice 2: Work for the smaller firm, enjoy the fruits of my labor and feed my family.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Apr 4, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
That's what the contracts look like, too
Pretty hilarious that people can boil it down to something so diminutive.
"I can be friends with anybody. Man. Woman. Cat. Dog. Fish..... Alien." -Rampage
Yea but he has reached the ceiling in one, if he’s as good as most believe he is, there is no ceiling in the other. Choice 2 is the short term choice, choice 1 is where you go if you plan for a long future, no matter how negatively you lay it out! I understand he’s thinking of his family, but he’s only got so much time to work with in the sport. His family won’t starve if he isn’t stupid with money.
or he can wait til Zuffa offers him a more lucrative contract
Conducting an experiment on knocking people out in particular ways would be unethical.
Choice 2 is the short term choice, choice 1 is where you go if you plan for a long future, no matter how negatively you lay it out! I understand he’s thinking of his family, but he’s only got so much time to work with in the sport. His family won’t starve if he isn’t stupid with money.
I see it as the opposite – from a purely financial standpoint, Choice 2 is the safer, more responsible choice. Like you said yourself, he’s only got so much time to fight.
None more gangster.
Tweeter!
His contract is a big departure from other Bellator guys.
If he wanted out, Bjorn couldn’t do anything to stop him. Not that that would stop him from trying to sue anything that moves.
by POW on Apr 4, 2011 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions
He also has a contract... with a Champion's clause
He’s just saying the right things and that’s fine, but people might be making too much of it. He’s not an ardent defender of his own rights, he’s fighting on a deal that he signed and has no say in the matter right now.
"I can be friends with anybody. Man. Woman. Cat. Dog. Fish..... Alien." -Rampage
by Charles Awad on Apr 4, 2011 3:54 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
True,
and this point should basically be the end of the discussion.
He is going out of his way to not make any controversial statements aimed towards Dana, and also doesn’t come off as a lazy ass who is content with fighting cans for the rest of his career.
He is locked into his contract and making good money apparently doing what he loves.
i thought i read someone say that he doesn't have a champions clause
can we get a confirmation on this?
exactly
he’s comfortable in his current spot no doubt, but he’s certainly aware of the possibilities offered by a bigger platform as well. also, he undoubtedly knows his abilities enough to understand that nobody in the ufc is just going to school him and make him look bad enough that he’d be cut after 1 or 2 fights.
by Trust Doesn't Rust on Apr 4, 2011 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Different fighters have different business models have different career goals.
Contributor at cagepages.com Come check us out.
Head Kick Legend
And if I was 20 years old and I was single and I had no kids, I would jump to the UFC tomorrow.
Interesting, since they offered him a TUF spot when he was 21 and turned it down. His wife was pregnant with his first kid at the time though.
Still a Beer Monster.
http://www.instrength.com
TUF didn’t pay those $5G finish bonuses.
I tend to be biased towards strikers . . . exciting strikers.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
by VeeisAnimated on Apr 4, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
That was TUF 1?
I don’t know the story. If so maybe he didn’t want to fight as a MW.
Contributor at cagepages.com Come check us out.
Head Kick Legend
Well then that seems like it was probably a bad business decision
In retrospect at least
Contributor at cagepages.com Come check us out.
Head Kick Legend
A bad business decision for Eddie? I don’t think so. He would have been locked into a 9 fight contract that paid peanuts, and it was very early in his career. He’s made very good money since then outside the UFC with less risk, so I’d call it pretty smart.
Still a Beer Monster.
http://www.instrength.com
by Tim Burke on Apr 4, 2011 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Try leaving a pregnant wife for 6 weeks
My wife would literally break my knees if I even thought about it
"Look man I don't know, I swear to god" "SWEAR-TO-MEEE!!!!" - Batman
I can believe it
Just not in my house
"Look man I don't know, I swear to god" "SWEAR-TO-MEEE!!!!" - Batman
In almost all houses I bet
I just remember watching someone’s wife give birth while they were on the show.
Eddie's in a similar situation to Jake prior to his signing with Zuffa
And Jake got 75/75 a fight, a slew of new sponsorship deal’s and a co-main event slot in his first fight.
http://unintelligentdefense.blogspot.com
I'd much rather be the *man* in a small organization
Make a lot of money and have people wonder “would he make it in the UFC”
Than be a mid-tier guy in the UFC and make a quarter of the money. Dana White’s pat on the back doesn’t pay many bills.
"Look man I don't know, I swear to god" "SWEAR-TO-MEEE!!!!" - Batman
A mid tier LW in the UFC recently made $96,000
I’m sure that will keep the lights on.
http://unintelligentdefense.blogspot.com
by MattParker117 on Apr 4, 2011 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions
true, but life is also full of opportunities. eddie’s good enough to potentially become “the man” in the ufc, and more importantly has enough of an authentic east coast personality (and is already a big regional draw) to be a much-needed bedrock for shows in the philadelphia/jersey area. he could make way more than he’s making now if things fell together for him.
by Trust Doesn't Rust on Apr 4, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I just don't understand
Some people insatiable need, to defend Dana and the UFC in all things. It’s like they read his marketing plan and signed an oath to defend it. Dana discredits fighters that aren’t his out of business principles, you don’t promote the other guy. Yet, people come on here and treat it like its gospel.
"Look man I don't know, I swear to god" "SWEAR-TO-MEEE!!!!" - Batman
The reverse is also true, no matter what Dana and co. do, some people have the insatiable need to bash them and act like they are hatching an evil scheme to bring about the downfall of MMA as a whole. It’s a 50/50 split it seems to me.
I have no problem with Dana or the UFC
I get tired of the people that honestly believe that every fighter in the UFC is better than every fighter out of the UFC. Or that every win inside the UFC is worth double of that outside the UFC, it just boggles my mind
"Look man I don't know, I swear to god" "SWEAR-TO-MEEE!!!!" - Batman
They do get you a pay increase
Matt Hammill for example has gained $12,000 in pay since the Jones fight, Jake Ellenberger got $12,000 more for the Rocha fight than the Jon Howard fight. Same thing has happened with certain Strikeforce fighters.
http://unintelligentdefense.blogspot.com
by MattParker117 on Apr 4, 2011 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions
What a remarkably honest and clear-headed explanation
It’s nice to hear a professional athlete talk about these things in terms of a rational business decision rather than pandering to fans’ emotional needs for absolute order in the rankings. The way he describes it, it’s hard to see how anyone makes any choice other than the one he is making. If Bellator is paying him equal — or even better — money than he could make as the star of the UFC, why on earth would he risk going to an organization where he’d have to start out as a mid-carder, in a division that is both brutal and overcrowded? As long as the checks clear, it would be borderline irresponsible to his family to chuck a stable, high visibility, high-paying gig, to take his chances in that murderer’s row. If the UFC ever decides they really want him, they can come and make him an offer he can’t refuse.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on Apr 4, 2011 4:14 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
Cause I don't know or care about his family, that's why.
Rankings are more important Eddie. Selfish bastard.
"[UFC]’s a great rush, eh? It makes your sphincter get real tight." - Harold Howard
by lowellthehammer on Apr 4, 2011 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
haha
you make a good point. he does owe us.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on Apr 4, 2011 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Most elite athletes talk about the competition and wanting to fight the best, I guess he just doesn’t care about being the best.
EXACTLY.
http://www.headkicklegend.com/
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Apr 5, 2011 3:22 AM EDT up reply actions
People outside the UFC
should take note to HOW Eddie answered this question. Got his point across respectively without acting like a prick towards his future boss (bc it will happen someday).
Daley… take notes.
Part of what makes Daley so dangerous and fun to watch in the cage
is that he’s not exactly the type of person who takes notes about this sort of thing. I agree that Alvarez handled this extraordinarily well, but we hold fighters up to a ridiculous standard if we’re asking them all to be politicians.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on Apr 4, 2011 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions
exactly! daley barely speaks english.
I never know what the fuck that guy is saying.
Notes….. lol
"True strength is not always shown through victory. Stand up, try again and display strength of heart." - Rickson Gracie
"Wanderlei eventually got to his feet and stalked Fujita like a Japanese octopus in an all-female prison." - Sean Baby Cracked.com
by the-gentle-way on Apr 4, 2011 5:53 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
If he’s truly making more in Bellator then that’s fine. As long as he doesn’t go around calling himself the #1 lightweight in the world or issuing open challenges to anyone in the UFC/Strikeforce, then whatever. I have a feeling Bellator is not going to be able to afford these huge contracts indefinately anyways.
If it's just one guy...
They can afford it if it’s just one or two guys. At least they’re not like Affliction and offering people million dollar fights when they’re in the red.
I completely respect this
And that’s coming from someone most people would peg as a Zuffa shill. The reason I respect this but not what Melendez is doing is that Alvarez isn’t throwing rocks at the establishment, talking shit, and claiming to be the best but then refusing to go to where he can prove it. His rhetoric matches his actions. Melendez’s does not.
Alvarez could probably hang with the boys at the top of the UFC, but he says it’s not a smart financial decision and then he has the class to say that he has nothing against the UFC.
I'd love to know what Bellator is really paying him...
…and what the earnings potential of a UFC run actually is. That would be an interesting case study for the fight game.
At least Fedor was the consensus number 1 HW in the world before he stopped facing elite competition.
Alvarez just cracked the top 5 and now he wants to settle for fighting guys who would at best be considered between 25-50 in the world.
if eddie is satisfied with fighting against weak competition and he's happy with that then let it be
there’s no problem with that but if he ever decides to step up and fight against better competition, then signing with the ufc is the answer. plus, this includes a bigger pay check, recognition, sponsorships, and reputation.
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