Something is happening in the ranks of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo has called it a career after defending his 135-pound strap for the first time, stating that UFC President Dana White “knows the number” that would make him reconsider the decision. Incumbent light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is goading the UFC to release him from his contract after preliminary negotiations regarding a move up to heavyweight to face Francis Ngannou were reportedly aborted when “Bones” asked for a bump in pay. Welterweight darling and celebratory BMF titleholder Jorge Masvidal is in a similarly recalcitrant mood, publicly comparing the promotion to communist Cuba and lashing out at the restrictions imposed on his mobility and bargaining power. Former two-division champion Conor McGregor, who made his explosive return to competition in January following a prolonged hiatus, has “retired” for the third time in four years, citing difficulties with UFC matchmaking. Nate Diaz is still tweeting Nate Diaz things, criticizing the promotion’s habit of offering title fights to the lowest bidder in reference to the recently announced UFC 251 main event between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns. Even Sean O’Malley, the fast-rising bantamweight prospect who earned a quick knockout over former title contender Eddie Wineland on June 6, is griping about his pay stub to assembled reporters at the UFC 250 post-fight press conference:
“I think the whole week was kind of about the ‘Sugar Show.’ I was supposed to renegotiate after I knocked out Jose [Alberto Quinonez], and they wouldn’t; it didn’t happen. It sucks that I even have to bring that stuff up and it has to be about money. It shouldn’t have to be. It should be pretty fair. I think it should be something we can all agree on, and I just want to get paid what I feel I’m worth.”
You can read the rest of this article at Sherdog.com.
Jacob Debets 