Vinny Magalhães M-1 Global LHW belt
M-1 Global light heavyweight champion Vinny Magalhães has reportedly sold his belt on eBay for $100,000.
The belt was up for sale over the past few days with bidding skyrocketing up to $100,000 when Magalhães declared it sold on Twitter (@VinnyMMA).
– SOLD!!! @ebay #winning $100k http://twitter.com/VinnyMMA/status/202306348111773696/photo/1
The page has since been removed from the eBay site.
Magalhães and M-1 Global have been on the outs since last fall when the Brazilian defended his title against Mikhail Zayats at an event in Phoenix, Arizona.
Magalhães told MMAFighting.com that during his fight in October, M-1 Global exec Evgeni Kogan was actively cheering against him during the bout, which really opened the divide between both sides.
“I’ve never had a problem with M-1 as a company,” he said. “They always paid me for the fights they were supposed to. My only problem is with Evgeni Kogan, which was a personal problem. He was at in my last fight, he decided to root against me, and since that day things haven’t gone well.”
Magalhaes doesn’t regret making his complaints with Kogan public.
“I mean, when he rooted against me he didn’t do it behind the scenes,” Magalhaes said. “He made it public … He said I was an unemployed gigolo fighter, what does that even mean, is he calling me a prostitute?”
Since then Magalhães has been shelved by M-1 Global, waiting out the remainder of his contract which will conclude this summer, allowing him to sign with any promotion without restrictions.
Magalhães is hoping that he’ll get a chance to avenge a loss to UFC light heavyweight Ryan Bader at the TUF 8 Finale.
If the UFC signs him, he may get that chance.