UFC Declines To Offer Contract To Lindland
The UFC has declined to offer middleweight Matt Lindland a contract to fight for the promotion, according to a report by MMA Junkie.
Lindland had this to say during a recent appearance on TAGG Radio:
“I made it very clear to Dana (White), and he’s the final decision-maker on all that stuff. I made it very clear that I was looking for them to make me an offer. I said, ‘Make me an offer, and let’s talk. Let’s do business.’ I got back a, ‘We’re not going to make you any kind of an offer’ response.“
Lindland (20-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC) fought for the UFC twelve times between 2000 and 2005 but was abruptly let go following a sponsorship dispute in which Lindland wore promotional materials for an unapproved sponsor during weigh-ins for UFC 54. Inside the octagon Lindland has picked up victories against Yoji Anjo, Ricardo Almeida, Phil Baroni (twice), Pat Miletich, Ivan Salaverry, Falaniko Vitale, Travis Lutter, and Joe Doerksen. His UFC losses came against Murilo Bustamante, Falaniko Vitale, and David Terrell.
Since leaving the UFC, Lindland has secured five victories with only two defeats, both of which were outside of his weight class against current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson and top-ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko.
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Just when I think there is a bright light shining on Dana giving him eternal wisdom; he turns around and makes completely stupid decisions. What harm would Linland bring the UFC? All I can see are some beautiful match ups. Lindland could have definite prospects of stealing the belt from Anderson. In a division so lacking in talent, I have to question Dana’s motives behind this move. Is he still miffed Linland wore “unapproved sponsor” clothing, Especially now when Extreme Couture is an unapproved sponsor? Some days I feel Dana woke up with stupid on his forehead.
I too am upset by this. I know Dana and Matt had their problems when Lindland was in the UFC before, but he is definately a TOP 5 Middleweight, and what if Hendo looses to Silva???? (I don’t think he will but what if. I know Silva has talked of moving to 205, but why not sign Lindland?? I am sure there is a reason, but I want to know what it is.
I would have loved to see Silva vs Lindland. Oh well. I don’t think Lindland is nearly as good as he thinks he is. I don’t see anyone touching the Silvas belt for a while imo (sry hendo fans)
What a dickhead dana white Matt lindland is the **** and is also traning partners with my most popular fighter Dan Henderson
This is exactly what I have been saying. Dana King is probably the most stupid person I have ever seen. He must think that people are going to buy ppv just to see his ugly face. Well I would pay a hundred just to see Tito or Randy beat him to a pulp. He walks around like he made the world of mma. If anyone thinks he is doing a good job today. They must not know anything about business. the ufc has always pushed people and other org. around, but there are some other org. starting to team up. They are also signing big name fighters, could be bad for the ufc. He also talked about slapping some director around, wonder why if he thinks Fedor is a chump he doesn’t slap him. Probably because he doesn’t mind talking but he’s a chump sissy fagget.
thats a real got to be more to it than just the sponsorship thing but maybe we wont find out. the division is so light at the mo it doesnt make sense.
i just cant see the sence in not signing him very weird!
im also a hendo fan but i just cant see him beating silva im hopeing he does but silva is like a robot i dont think hes ever been hurt in the ufc.
scotchydow
when did silva say he was talking about moveing to 205? if this is true i could see a champion v champion match that would be exciting.
I dot belive silva said he was moving up he just is not big enough and not to take him lightlly i think he wouldnt make top 10
Let’s leave all of the petty bull**** up to the other companies already.Lindland not getting a contract seems bloody ridiculous.This I said he said bull**** is not helping the ufc at all.Furthermore with all the other organizations out and new ones coming into the big pic now,It seems they the ufc isnt doing all it should to get and keep top quality figters.Seems to me that Dana is kicking his company square in the roke sack.Suck it man just stop acting like a little girl!!!!!!!
i agree with pecker!!! dana is a moron @ times, look @ what he did with fedor, because of that he lost one of the best heavy weight champs ever…Randy. the middleweight division is so lame right now, why wouldnt you sign matt funky arms lindland?
Lindland has made it clear that he does not want to forfeit his duties in other organisations (isn’t he an announcer for a promotion on HD Net?) and ties to the IFL so it would be pointless to attempt to negioiate a deal as the UFC have always demanded exclusivty.
How can that be Dana’s fault?
Yeah, for sure Dana does not want Matt to come in and walk on the Middle weight division. Because he doesn’t like him.. Period!!! Dana doesn’t care what the fans want. He’s playing U.F.C GOD. and if you don’t like it who cares.. Thats it. Get used to it..
Matt Linland is the best MW fighter in the world….always have thought that and always will. I would want to watch a Silva vs Linland fight more than a Randy vs Fedor match. Call me weird but the MW fight intrigues me more.
Is it just me, or does HDNet Fights seem to be capitalizing on every UFC mistake it can? I wouldn’t put it past them to sign Lindland in a heartbeat.
Oh, speaking of them, if you enjoy your freakshows like I so (Lesner, Kimbo Slice), HDNet is broadcasting Strikeforce @ the Dome tonight featuring Bob Sapp at 10:30 EST on HDNet (free, if you get HDNet).
hey shane if u read the artical again it says lindland wanted to sign with the ufc but its up to dana to ‘ok’ it and seen as he doesn’t want to give the fans what we want even tho silva would kick his ass sorry fixXer but u no its true were not going to see him any time soon, so thats why its danas fault bud
Lowcash,
I don’t know where you get the idea HD is capitalizing on UFC’s so called “mistakes.” Did you watch tonight? Tim Sylvia must of had one on ones with every fighter last night and convinced them to copy his style. Not one fighter had a good ground game. Even the fighters who had a slight ground game were to weak or lacked technical skill to finish. Slow paced, lack of style and unimpressive is how I feel about tonights strikeforce. I am being harsh and did enjoy some of it but overall it was dull.
I think Silva would lose Johnboy……but yeah u are right….it will not happen anytime soon
I have always backed Dana….but ****….he has been screwing up latley.
TimD… Your on the money, other organizations are benefiting from Dana’s mistakes; And good for them. You can not run a business personally like Dana is. Who checks Dana? What exactly do the Fertitta brothers do? A business needs checks and balances in place; yet in the UFC it seems Dana is the all mighty. Personally I am a little worried where Dana is taking the company; someone needs to put a leash on him.
On the subject of other organizations benefiting from Dana’s error; here is a big one, HDNet Fights has entered into a contract with Randy Couture. The contract is scheduled to commence upon the expiration of Randy’s UFC promotional agreement.
I dont know about Dana ever since they bought pride he doesnt respect the original ufc fighters. I beleive tito,arvloski and sylvia will be leaving after their next fights. Who wouldn’t what to see ortiz fight any of the new pride guys at 205. arvloski don’t get big name fights anymore and he’s one of the most exciting fighters at hw. not tring to sign lindland is a huge mistake it would be such a boost for the mw division where as of now you have an unbeatable champion whos only real compitition is henderson and a man hes already beaten twice in franklin. wake up dana people don’t watch the ufc for its name they watch because it as the best fighters or well it used to.
Pecker,
What do you do for a living? Dana and the UFC do not need big star names, they need the vast majority of prime talent. How is Dana screwing up lately? He tried to get Fedor and it didn’t work. Randy is OLD and only wants to fight Fedor. I love Randy but he is old and his actions/attitude leave a lot of questions. No one name should be bigger than the sport. I do not believe Randy will fight more than 2 more times. If he fights 3 more times I would be amazed. Anyway, where’s Dana screwing up? The UFC continuiously puts on entertaining shows and introduces new fighters. I think you along with a lot of other people are hung up on “names” and not the continued success of the UFC introducing new fighters.
I blame Lindland for that, and I don’t blame Dana. Lindland is known as a Grade A prick who is very hard to negotiate with and to work with. Plus, the guy is 38 years old. He’s done. Lindland is not the force that he seems to think he is, and the UFC MW division doesn’t need Lindland(Alemida, Tanner, Hendo all coming to the MW division).
Anderson would wreck Lindland’s old ass, and we don’t even need to see the fight to know that. His teammate Hendo fighting Anderson is good enough. Lindland can stick to Bodog spectacle fights and the IFL.
KOuch – if you read this comment section from the beginning you would see in the first post I talked about Dana making good decisions, but he was hit with the stupid stick on this one.
I’m sorry but the UFC does need the big names (definition of big names to me is great fighters). I am all for new fighters getting their chance, making a name for themselves. There has to be a constant changing of the guard; usually it is a natural progression. It seems to me certain fighters in the UFC are being forced out.
Randy left on his own terms but, the UFC did not do all they could to try to resolve that situation. As for how many fights he will have I don’t know, I really don’t know if he will fight at all because Zuffa is tying him up in court and basically saying Randy can never again fight unless it is in the UFC. Zuffa is basically preventing Randy from making a living in his chosen career. I always dreamed of this scenario; Randy should have taken his last 3 fights, Step in the cage, Big John says “lets get it on” Randy walks forward a step then his corner throws in the towel.
Dana screwing up in my mind is making decisions based on HIS personal interest. Dana is basing (some of) his decisions on personal feelings, not necessarily what is good for the UFC, or what the fan’s of this sport want?
BTW someone up the board,I agree. I would love to see Tito fight the new breed coming. Same with AA, his last fight was boring so everybody say’s good riddance. Andrei Arlovski’s fights usually ended by the second round. He faced Fabricio Werdum at UFC 70 and won by unanimous decision. After the fight Arlovski apologized to the fans for fighting for the full fifteen minutes. You can not bring your top game 100% of the time. Everyone is gaga over Napo yet he just got beaten by someone Arlovski beat; Even if it was a boring fight.
KOuch, what do you do for a living. Sounds to me like dana might have hired you to come on here and take up for him. By the way if the ufc does not need big names why did they pay brock loser 250k to fight. Because if you say he is worth it thats crazy. By the way if dana is doing such a good job, then how is it that all these fighters that have expressed problems they are all wrong and dana is right. Whatever unless he is paying you then there is no way you could objectively say that. He is also making decisions from personal feelings. If he can’t push a fighter around then that fighter is a punk, but while he was trying to sign them they are great. He’s a two face punk fagget he needs one these guys that he calls punks to slap him upside his ugly bald head, to show him he is not near as big as he thinks he is. fred how can you say this is lindland’s fault he laid it out there for dana to make an offer. He did not that is what the post said. I mean are you saying he didn’t kiss dana’s butt it was his fault come on surely not. I mean it sounds as if some people watch ufc because of dana. I think the Fertitta brothers should renegotiate dana’s contract for 10k to show up to work for a year and 10k not to suck. When he turns that down call a punk on live tv like he does everyone else. By the way if I didn’t say dana was a punk sissy fagget, with a deformed head I just did.
By day I am in construction soon to be a general contractor. By night I am a half caribou, half lion mixed with man bear pig. Strange, I know. After rereading my post I realize I did not say what I was trying to say about big names. The UFC does not need names like Sylvia(boring), CroCop(losing/hope he comes back), Tito(needs an impressive win), and Couture(old and not going to be fighting much longer). Big names are dandy but not when they are losing. Fans turn on a losers in a heartbeat. Maybe not you guys here because I believe you guys are bigger fans than the average person. Apparently you have something against Dana. Jealousy maybe??? He is running a company worth millions or billions of dollars that at the time of purchase was nearly out of business. He must be an f’ing moron. You’re right, the Fritatititaes should just fire him. Forget the 10k thing. Dana is a retard. I don’t work for him but I would honestly like to. Working for the UFC would be badass. I’d even take an ass whoopin’ from a lightweight just for fun and job security.
I’m really not a man to put down any fighter. As a fighter myself I understand how hard it is for these guys to do what they do. But I personally think it is better that Matt not get a contract with the UFC right now. The UFC is for the best fighters on Earth. Matt has beaten some tough fighters like Horn, but his style is just very limited. Great ground game, tough chin, but not ready just yet. A lot of guys have lots of wins, but tend to lose against the best. Give Matt a few more years, a few more fights, then see if he is ready. Against great stickers, Matt sloppy style tends to get him rocked too often. No disrespect Matt, really learn to keep your hands up and not slowly jump into your punches. Learn to box and you can be a top fighter.
Real shame Lindland wont be fighting in the UFC again. . .
He always was one of the best (if not the best) fighters around, problem isn’t just his sponsor I reckon it has to do with his style of fighting also which is too Grecko for the casual fan. If it aint KO’s then it MUST be boring?!
The fact that he is a amongst the best is all that should matter. . .
This has nothing to do with an un-approved sponser and everything to do with Lindland’s style of fighting. Dana knows Matt has a legitmate chance to beat Silva and knows that Matt isn’t that marketeable of a fighter to the newbie’s.
KOuch, after a post like that I believe we could be friends. I truly enjoy an objective view. I am not jealous of dana, I ran my own business for 12 years. I know what it means to do that, however I also know what it means to treat people right. I said ran because july 9 I had an accident that paralyzed me from chest down leaving me without the use of my fingers to grip, or even bend thats why my typing is the way it is. These guys did a lot for the ufc some of whom could draw big numbers in crowds, and still have big fights.
never in a million years would white sign lindland….two reasons
1, him being boring as f*** to watch!!!
and 2, he can easily beat anderson silva, would be like watching 25 minutes of soft core porn.
lindland has the wrestling and the size to take silva down and keep him there.
plain and simple.
KOuch
LMAO at dana’s contract.
Im not the kind of fan where a fighter gets back to back loses and I say don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Look at Chuck, I think things got too easy for him and he lost focus. It is that general idea that has the fighters running to steroids.. If they get handed a loss they know they need to climb up the ladder or their fighting on Spike’s fight night or worse not at all. Bonner is a prime example.
I’m sorry TimD, I need to credit you with Dana’s contract.
KOuch, when Dana gets fired you can have his job, I don’t want it. (thats a lie I would love to see what I could do)
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I credit Dana %50 for the UFC turn around, the other %50 goes to Forrest and Bonner for bringing back old fans and a whole army of new ones.