(The future is wide open for “The Flash.”)
Bibiano Fernandes contacted us today via email to clear up any controversy that may have arisen from a mistranslated quote from TATAME that we reported on this morning.
According to the Brazilian website, the DREAM bantamweight champ allegedly revealed during a recent interview that he had turned down the UFC in favor of re-signing with the struggling Japanese promotion after his contract expired following his 2011 DREAM Bantamweight tournament final win over Antonio Banuelos on New Year’s Eve.
According to “The Flash,” who is widely considered by many to be the number one or two 135-pound fighter in the world, the translation that was printed was erroneous, as was his current DREAM contract status that TATAME reported.
“I really respect the UFC and think it is a great organization. Right now I still have one more fight in my contract with DREAM and so my focus is with DREAM. They pay me very well and I have a family of 5 to provide for,” he explained. “I don’t know where the future will take me, but I have never turned down the UFC. I don’t feel like I have to prove anything.”
We’ll have an exclusive interview with Fernandes later this week.