Dana White Speaks Out Against AKA; Velasquez and Koscheck Could Be Cut Next
Heavyweight up-and-comer Cain Velasquez and established welterweight Josh Koscheck could be the next UFC fighters to be cut by the UFC for refusing to sign a lifetime video game agreement with the promotion.
Jon Fitch and Christian Wellisch were both cut on Wednesday for refusing to sign the contract and, according to Yahoo Sports, the UFC is no longer willing to work with American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) or fighters represented by DeWayne Zinkin and Bob Cook.
Both Velasquez and Koscheck, along with Fitch and Wellisch, train out of AKA and are also poised to decline the agreement and face an immediate termination of their contract. Welterweight Mike Swick, who also trains at AKA, has contacted the UFC and confirmed his intention to continue to fight for the promotion.
“We’re looking for guys who want to work with us and not against us, and frankly I’m just so [expletive] sick of this [expletive] it’s not even funny,” said UFC President Dana White to Yahoo! Sports. “Affliction is still out there trying to build its company. Let [Fitch] go work with them. Let him see what he thinks of those [expletives]. [Expletive] him. These guys aren’t partners with us. [Expletive] them. All of them, every last [expletive] one of them.”
According to the report, Fitch’s issue with the agreement was not a matter of money, but was instead with the contract’s lifetime term and that it would “not pay his family in the event of his death”, though Fitch indicated he is willing to work with the UFC in reaching a compromise.
Since when is a [Expletive] video game the main [Expletive] focus of the [Expletive] UFC? [Expletive] this. I want to see the best [Expletive] fighters in the UFC. Not just the fighters who will sign off on a [Expletive] video game deal. Seriously, Dana needs to get his [Expletive] together.
Wow. No offense, Dana, but you might have just given Affliction their new Welterweight Champion. Not a good move, man. But hey, you’re Dana and you built the UFC. I can’t say I understand it, but I do understand loyalty.
I take SOME comfort in “…though Fitch indicated he is willing to work with the UFC in reaching a compromise.”
Best of luck, Fitch….hope we see you in the Octagon again.
This video game better be good if it’s worth going through all this trouble, LOL.
So Swick will be in the game? YES! LOL Looks like business might slow down for AKA.
total slavery - signing away yourself forever. talk about over-reaching. Is this Dana or Lorenzo? Randy was thrown to the wolves for his contract contretemps, is this outrageous and abusive treatment of it’s players going top end the UFC - if so it is a deserved death.
Pure evil. Sickening disgusting greedy scum = UFC today.
Dana is being completely unreasonable.
In no way should a fighter have to sign away their image for the rest of their life. For any video games being developed during their contract, yes.
It’s a shame about Fitch. He is awesome to watch.
The main thing with the video game and all forms of promotion (which is exactly what a video game is) is the UFC wants to build thier company with thier fighters.
The best example that I can think of is this: Anytime I watch Strikeforce, eliteXC, etc. they always make sure to mention when a fighter formally faught for the UFC. I’m sure the UFC hates this. The last thing they want is a fighter to move on and have his new promotion bank off the UFC.
well that actually didn’t make as much sense as it did when I thought it up. I’ll still leave it there hoping someone will do me the favor of expanding my point or maybe someone could even tear me a new a$$hole for attempting to make a good point and failing.
Regardless of how expletive hard Dana is trying to work to build the UFC mega-brand, axing Fitch (if it comes to that) and Koscheck takes away a huge chunk of talent from (what used to be) one of the UFC’s deepest divisions. Not to mention what will be left of the already scarce HW order once Velazquez and Wellisch leave town. Also, cutting off an entire camp, especially one as strong as AKA, is rather ridiculous. I would have thought that White would be a bit more rational about his cuts these days, given the other wolves(Affliction, Strikeforce,usual Japanese suspects)sniffing around every corner for just the faintest hint of strong talent.
The UFC should sell their product and not their brand name. I don’t know what the hell they’re thinking.
Agreed Eric.
I agree 100%. I believe losing Fitch and Koscheck is a very bad idea. It has to be a two-way street. UFC gives some, fighters give some.
PS: Who wouldn’t want to be their own character in a video game?
Here’s the deal.
Not signing the vido game contract is pure stupidity. You do all of this to get fame and fans; and then you want to not sign the rights to be put in a video game??? These guys are going to hate themselves someday for not only blowing it in the UFC, but for giving up the CHANCE TO BE IN A VIDEO GAME!!! Do thy really think without the UFC they would ever get that chance?
Dana’s right. There are too many good fighters that want to be a part of the UFC to put up with those who don’t. The UFC is giving them a chance in a liftime. Don’t they realize THEIR KIDS COULD PLAY A VIDEO GAME WITH THEIR DADS IN IT!!!
Drop the agents and managers who would tell you to get more money, because nothing else matters to an agent. Because, the agent doesn’t get to be in a video game.
It really makes the game cooler if it has everybody that’s under contract.
Why would you not sign that release? Why would you need to get paid to be in a video game???
Dana, drop anyone who won’t sign!!!
First Tito, then Randy, then Arlovski, now Fitch & Koscheck.
Trust me, St. Pierre could be next.
Dana’s in ****ing charge, and the fighters are dumb bastards (Dana calls his own fighters dumb basterds and retards - in public). It’s been documented.
Why would Fedor want to sign away his life - to Dana White of all people.
Affliction must survive - if only so talented fighters have options to fight.
Dana White is one step closer to becoming a Vince McMahon clone.
Is this an issue solely with AKA or just certain fighters it is a blow releasing Fitch and possibly Koscheck but the UFC still has great WW fighters coming through and still some established names too.
So i assume Dana still knows what he is doing
It is complete bullsh1t that you have to sign away your likeness and name.
This is not the WWE, where Vince McMahon creates the character and control their likeness. This is a DAMN VIDEO GAME we are talking about. Come on Dana White get your head out of your A$$.
Just got this sign-up thing right, finally!
For all you [Expletive] Dummies, this is a BUSINESS!..Who cares what you want? [Expletive] you!
“regoillin said:
The UFC should sell their product and not their brand name. I don’t know what the hell they’re thinking.”
Everyone else trades on the brand name, why shouldn’t Dana? The UFC stands to make a metric sh*t-ton of money off this video game. THQ is likely pushing for these or the game won’t come out. You don’t want it tied to the UFC contract because when a fighter leaves the UFC, THQ doesn’t have rights to the likeness anymore.
Therefore, when a fighter refuses to sign, especially high level and popular fighters, it stands as a road block to the game coming out. That is directly working against your employer and in any real job that WILL get you fired.
I agree with Fitch that the payments shouldn’t stop in the event of his untimely demise. As long as they are using his likeness, he or his estate should get paid for it. However, if it comes down to losing your job or not getting everything you want…well, that’s life. We all make choices and now he and Dana both have to live with it.
Something doesn’t smell right.
Only a few hold outs from pretty much one camp. All other fighters sign??? The point has been made, who wouldn’t want to be on a video game? Doesn’t make sense when top to bottom everyone else signs. Someone is allowing the fighters to think again.
However, most of you know I’m a huge Dana supporter. I hope he is being cautious and has good reason for his attitude.
All in all I don’t think Dana makes rash decisions and there must be reasoning behind it. I predict the fighters will come to their senses…
I’m with surfingk5, it doesn’t quite make sense that all the other fighters are signing, but this one camp is not. I think its a case of Zinkin, as a representative of this fighters, trying to strong arm Dana, and Dana said “[expletive] you I’ll show you who’s in charge.” Bear in mind, that the agents representing athletes usually get paid based on a percentage of what their client makes. Zinkin may have tried tried to block this because he didn’t stand to make much money off of it, and now he’s out a pay check until he signs his fighters to a new promotion.
a lot of you guys are ufc fanboys.
Let me clarify my point, most missed it.
There is no way the fighters should have to sign away their likeness for the REST of their lives.
Anytime a fighters likeness is used for any merchandising sold (dvds, books, etc) they should be compensated. Whether this is in the terms of their contract or as royalties when they leave the company (ie. past PPV DVDs).
However, once the fighter has left the UFC they should have the right to deny usage of their likeness in Video games if they wish.
See that there is a choice.
All you saying ‘who wouldn’t want to be in a video game?’ are denying the fighters the choice to control how they are promoted.
Unbridled greed anyone?? Jon Fitch earned every penny of the $170,000 from the fight in Minneapolis. It is funny that Dana brings up that fight and how much Jon made because as the headline bout, he probably made 5 times what he normally does. MLB/NFL/NBA all operate with unions and the players call the shots or at least has a say in things - it will be hard to start and you will have to get guys who are willing to sacrifice when they don’t have to (example - Forest Griffin) for the sake of all fighters dealing with the UFC. This sounds pretty oppressive. Stand strong Jon. It will work out for you in the end.
Sounds like AKA was working something out with Affliction and it came to light for the UFC when the video game signings had to be done.
That’s an interesting point, WM. Why is no one noting that this is CLEARLY a concerted effort by AKA? Why is the UFC (Dana) the only bad guy when whoever is on top at AKA is obviously orchestrating this?
EA have been rumoured to enter the MMA Market so maybe they were negotiating deals with camps directly opposed to a promotion and this might be the reason why they didn’t want fighters signing deals ?
IM JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER SHOW…. SINCE ON UFC.COM EVERY WEEK THEY HAVE JUNIE BROWING DO A BLOG. DOES THAT MEAN HE DIDNT GET KICKED OFF AGAIN… BECAUSE IF THATS WHAT THAT MEANS THATS 3 MUTHA FUKKIN CHANCES THATS BULL****… AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT THINKS THAT ANY OF THE PAST LW TUF FIGHTERS CAN BEAT THIS SEASONS…
fitch was a bad cut but sylvia and werdum were boring and thats why they got cut has nothing to do with power, no one can power brock. Especially Sylvia got booed what 4/5 of his last fights?
WOW…what kind of dictatorship are they running??? so the fighters are for the most part, underpaid to begin with…but now they are stolen of any freedom in choosing whether or not they want to be part of a video game??!! does this not sound absolutely immature, irresponsible? the UFC has become that giant money grubbing corp. that takes everything, and expects to give nothing. sickening.
A F-ing video game is going to start diminshing the UFC’s pool of talent now? This is not good. The whole situation is so stupid that there has to be something “HUGE” missing from all the facts. Why does AKA and the UFC have this issue over a video game all of a sudden? What are we missing?
i’m down with whatever dana says! he has proven himself to be right so far… even when it appears at some moments he may be wrong. once all the facts come out… he has always been vindicated in his actions!