Account
Jorge Masvidal Accuses Dana White of 'Strong Arming' UFC Contract Negotiations
June 14, 2020
Jorge Masvidal once again spoke about what he believes is an unequal power dynamic when it comes to UFC's contract structure.
On June 7, Masvidal said the company uses a "take it or leave it" approach to negotiations, and then a fighter remains on shaky footing even after signing a new contract:
Jorge Masvidal UFC @GamebredFighterI’m in a contract that I had to take to get paid. Same way I got a new contract to fight till. Then a new contract to fight Nate. They keep extending the amounts of fights to my contract to keep me locked up and when I say I only want a 4 fight contract it’s take it or leave it.
He echoed those thoughts Sunday, saying UFC President Dana White was "strong arming" during the negotiating process:
Jorge Masvidal UFC @GamebredFighterI already explained why I signed a new deal. It’s either take it or leave it and not get paid. I would’ve signed another deal if it was done in good faith. He called me night before he wants to announce and tell me take or it leave it. That’s not negotiating that’s strong arming
UFC announced Kamaru Usman will defend the welterweight championship against Gilbert Burns at UFC 251 on July 11. According to ESPN's Ariel Helwani, the company selected Burns after failing to come to terms with Masvidal for the fight.
During a press conference on Friday, White alluded to the breakdown with Masvidal's representatives.
"Listen, I'm putting on fights every weekend for the next 10 years," he said, per MMA Junkie's Danny Segura. "If you want to fight, call us. We'll offer you fights, and if you don't want to take them, you don't have to. It's always been that way."
Masvidal isn't the first prominent star to make public his frustration over how UFC compensates and treats its fighters.
Conor McGregor retired altogether earlier this month and told Helwani he had grown upset with what he thought to be an aggressive approach toward booking his next opponent:
"I don't know. It's just crazy. I was cutting to 155, and then because I asked for 155, they wanted to show power and stomp all over me. I don't know why they do this. But it was taken from me and then pushed back. So then I'm thinking I don't want to be cutting if I'm fighting at 170. I have to be careful here. My body has to be correct to the weight. And then the 176 [Silva] talk. I'm just over it, man."
Jon Jones is in a protracted standoff with UFC and sent a series of tweets detailing how he felt UFC was "ripping me off throughout my entire 20s":
UFC is the biggest MMA company in the world, which undoubtedly gives it a lot of leverage during any contract and fight negotiations. That said, alienating some of its biggest stars could backfire spectacularly for a company that has struggled to elevate younger fighters in recent years.
If McGregor remains retired, then it would be a hit to UFC's bottom line. Taking a hard line with Jones and Masvidal, to the point one or both leaves, would compound the issues further.