Light heavyweight contender Ryan “Darth” Bader is currently a free agent, and it appears as if he’s weighing in his options. The No. 4-ranked UFC light heavyweight has competed inside the Octagon since 2008, but we may have seen the last of him competing for the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion. On yesterday’s (Jan.
Light heavyweight contender Ryan “Darth” Bader is currently a free agent, and it appears as if he’s weighing in his options. The No. 4-ranked UFC light heavyweight has competed inside the Octagon since 2008, but we may have seen the last of him competing for the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion.
On yesterday’s (Jan. 30, 2017) edition of The MMA Hour, Bader said that he has an offer from Bellator coming this week, although he did admit that the UFC has the right to match any offer he receives:
“I have a Bellator offer coming either today or tomorrow,” Bader said .“We kind of know the particulars. I went out and met with Scott Coker and the Bellator boys and I liked what they had to say, and I liked what they were about. So we’re going through that process. That being said, the UFC has the right to match. It’s kind of in a weird place. I’m super-excited to be in this position. I’m in a great position.”
The 33-year-old has won seven of his last eight bouts including victories over Anthony Perosh, Rafael Cavalcante, Ovince Saint Preux, reigning Bellator 205-pound champion Phil Davis, Rashad Evans, Ilir Latifi and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
If he does indeed jump shit and head over to Bellator, Bader believes he could receive an immediate title shot, and he feels as if it would be a fight that would interest Davis:
“I do believe we can [get a title shot right away]. That’s another thing, like I said, I keep hitting on the word opportunity and the plan — what’s your plan for me? And so, things like that are being discussed. I know [Davis] probably wants to get that win back…that’s definitely part of it.”
Do you expect Bader’s next fight to take place in the Bellator cage?
Reigning World Series of Fighting (WSOF) bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes is widely considered to be the best 135 pounder competing outside of the UFC and after defending his title for the fifth consecutive time this past weekend (Dec. 31, 2016) in New York, he is once again a free agent. While it’s unclear where he’ll
Reigning World Series of Fighting (WSOF) bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes is widely considered to be the best 135 pounder competing outside of the UFC and after defending his title for the fifth consecutive time this past weekend (Dec. 31, 2016) in New York, he is once again a free agent.
While it’s unclear where he’ll end up, the Brazilian made it clear that he’s interested in fighting the best:
“My idea is to fight the best and be valued for that,” Moraes told MMAjunkie. “I have what it takes to fight the best, I’m absolutely certain.
“Let’s see what we’re going to do. I’m excited, and I hope good offers arrive.”
With that being said, Moraes is well aware that the best fighters typically compete in the UFC, but he admitted that the offer must be right:
“The best are in the UFC,” Moraes said. “It doesn’t take an MMA expert to say that. Certainly, the best are there. But let’s see, let’s see if a good offer comes along and we can fight them and see what I can do. Because I’m sure I can arrive there in impressive fashion – not just there, but in any event, against any athlete in my division.”
Interesting enough, the UFC bantamweight strap was on the line last Friday (Dec. 30, 2016) just one day prior to Moraes’ fight. In a thrilling upset, Cody Garbrandt beat Dominick Cruz to steal the title and Moraes said he was ‘motivated’ by the fight:
“It was a very good fight, with an extremely high technical level,” Moraes said. “It was the day before my fight, and it was good. It really motivated me. And I saw that I’m at that level. It got me very happy and confident for my fight.”
As far as Garbrandt goes, Moraes admits that “No Love” is a talented fighter, although not one that the Brazilian feels is unbeatable:
“I thought Cody fought very well,” Moraes said. “He’s a very tough athlete, very good. That’s it, he’s good, but not invincible.”
Stay tuned to LowKickMMA as more news regarding Moraes’ free agency unfolds.
A few months back, former UFC welterweight title challenger Rory “Red King” MacDonald, a man who has loomed atop the promotion’s 170-pound division for years now, made it clear that he was interested in testing free agency after fighting out the last fight on his contract in hopes of finding the best deal possible. Well,
A few months back, former UFC welterweight title challenger Rory “Red King” MacDonald, a man who has loomed atop the promotion’s 170-pound division for years now, made it clear that he was interested in testing free agency after fighting out the last fight on his contract in hopes of finding the best deal possible.
Well, that last fight has come and gone, and it didn’t end particularly well for MacDonald, as the Canadian dropped a very one-sided decision to surging contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson last month in Ottawa.
Now, the 26-year-old MacDonald is free to test the free agency waters and according to a tweet from MMAJunkie’s Chamatkar Sandhu, the “Red King” has already received interest from Bellator President Scott Coker:
Bellator President Scott Coker told me they have begun a line of communication with Rory MacDonald in the hopes of signing the free agent.
We have seen multiple former UFC fighters jump ship and head to Bellator in recent memory including veterans Josh Koscheck and Josh Thomson as well as former lightweight champion Benson Henderson.
Prior to his loss to “Wonderboy” MacDonald had won three of his last four with the only loss in that stretch coming in a five round war for the ages against reigning UFC king Robbie Lawler in July 2015. Those three victories came opposite the likes of Demian Maia, current title challenger Tyron Woodley, and Tarec Saffiedine. MacDonald also owns wins over Nate Diaz, B.J Penn, and Jake Ellenberger.
Already an established star at the young age of 26, MacDonald undoubtedly has room to grow, and obviously has a long career ahead of him. Do you see Bellator luring in the “Red King”, or will MacDonald remain with the world’s largest mixed martial arts organization?
A few years ago, when it was time for free agency in the NBA, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all decided to each take a little less money and play together for the Miami Heat. How did that turn out? Oh, not too bad. While they failed to live up to the expectations placed upon them, they still managed to win back-to-back championships and made the NBA Finals four years in a row.
What does this have to do with mixed martial arts?
Much like James, Wade and Bosh are considered three of the very best players in the NBA, there are currently three MMA fighters on the free agent market that have the opportunity to introduce a sea change to the sport.
A few years ago, when it was time for free agency in the NBA, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all decided to each take a little less money and play together for the Miami Heat. How did that turn out? Oh, not too bad. While they failed to live up to the expectations placed upon them, they still managed to win back-to-back championships and made the NBA Finals four years in a row.
What does this have to do with mixed martial arts?
Much like James, Wade and Bosh are considered three of the very best players in the NBA, there are currently three MMA fighters on the free agent market that have the opportunity to introduce a sea change to the sport.
Before his victory over Junior Dos Santos in Dec. 15, Overeem stated his intent to test the free agent market when his UFC contract was up. Henderson announced just this morning that he had signed with a multi-fight deal with Bellator, while Sterling, who is represented by the same firm as Henderson, continues to mull over his options as a free agent.
The signing of Henderson to Bellator is a landmark deal for the sport, less so for the figures the former lightweight champion will making under the new promotion, but rather for what it represents in regards to the UFC’s lock on the sport’s top talent. Ever since the Fertitta brothers and The Baldfather took over the joint, the UFC has prided itself on housing “the world’s best fighters” while quickly eliminating any other promotion claiming the do the same. Following the dissolvement of Strikeforce back in 2013, the UFC’s status as the biggest game in town seemed more secure than ever, more or less forcing prospects and veteran fighters alike to sign with the promotion or start picking out their spot in the soup line.
But just as pride is the downfall of man, the UFC might have overplayed its hand (or underestimated Scott Coker) when it decided to get into business with Reebok.
From the moment the now landmark deal was signed, speculation began to arise from the UFC’s formerly contented roster. How would this affect my sponsors? Will I be making less money per fight? What the f*ck is a Fight Kit and do I have to wear it? And when the figures were released, allhellbrokeloose.
As it turns out, the only thing that motivates fighters more than championship gold is cold hard cash, so when it was revealed that they would be losing boatloads of it — all in the name of “legitimizing the sport,” mind you — well, it didn’t exactly sit well with them. Champions with exclusive sponsorship deals suddenly found themselves left out in the cold. Prominent figures in the sport suddenly found themselves making pennies to headline pay-per-views and FOX cards. Hell, even tentatively-connected MMA celebrities were taking to social media to trash Reebok, and not simply because the uniforms themselves are pieces of sh*t.
How did they do this? By not being the UFC, more or less.
The UFC might be the biggest game in town, but it’s not the ONLY game in town, and while you can debate the merits of the product that Bellator puts out vs. that of the UFC, it’s not an issue that fighters really seem to care about when money is on the line. Does Bellator continue to book ridiculous main events like Ken Shamrock vs. Kimbo Slice? They sure do, yet more and more of the world’s best fighters are preferring to call Bellator home for one simple reason: freedom.
And this is only the start. In an interview on yesterday’s MMA Hour, Coker unveiled his plans to start buying free agents “from the top down” in an effort to continue building Bellator’s brand.
“I think this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Coker. “Fighters are fighting out their contracts. They want to negotiate. They really want to see what their value is. We’re going to help them to define what their value is. It’s always good for the industry to have more than one bidder.”
With the UFC moving closer and closer to a totalitarian state by a day, guys like Henderson, Sterling and Overeem have a real opportunity here. They have the right to make whatever choice they feel is best for their careers, and for once, that might not necessarily mean the UFC. Can you imagine if all three decided to pull a “Big Three” like James, Wade and Bosh in the NBA and sign with Bellator? The organization’s profile instantly rises 10-fold and at least enters the same neighborhood as the UFC, while the latter’s lock on “the best fighters in the world” continues to slip as a result of their own stubborn frivolousness.
Imagine Henderson facing the likes of Michael Chandler, Will Brooks or Michael “Venom” Page in Bellator. Imagine Sterling squaring off with Marcos Galvao, or WSOF bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes, for that matter. Talk about fireworks. With Bellator and WSOF’s heavyweight divisions in the state they are, Overeem would have a golden opportunity to have a division, or even an organization, revolve around him in a way in never truly has in the UFC.
While it’s likely that Sterling and Overeem will re-sign with the UFC, it is interesting to play fantasy booking and imagine the possibilities if they decide to “take their talents” elsewhere, to quote King James. I mean, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m absolutely dying to see Scott Coker announce the next Bellator “tent pole” card will feature Overeem facing Kimbo Slice in the main event. Imagine the ratings!
Eddie Alvarez is a free man. According to a press release sent out by Bellator this afternoon, the promotion has granted the lightweight star his unconditional release, after a rocky history of contract disputes, lawsuits and reconciliations dating back to late 2012. In the end, Bellator president Scott Coker didn’t want to keep Eddie around if he didn’t want to be there. Check out the official statement below:
Newport Beach, Calif. (August 19, 2014) – Bellator President Scott Coker has released a statement regarding Eddie Alvarez:
“We’ve granted Eddie his unconditional release. Eddie is free to explore the free agent market, we hold no matching rights, and we wish him the best in the future. We sat down with Eddie and his team a few times, and it became pretty clear early on that he just wasn’t interested in fighting for Bellator in the future. We want guys in this organization that want to be here, and after the history Eddie and the former regime had here at Bellator, we decided to move on. We wish Eddie the absolute best of luck with whatever is next for him. It’s a new chapter for everyone involved.”
Eddie Alvarez is a free man. According to a press release sent out by Bellator this afternoon, the promotion has granted the lightweight star his unconditional release, after a rocky history of contract disputes, lawsuits and reconciliations dating back to late 2012. In the end, Bellator president Scott Coker didn’t want to keep Eddie around if he didn’t want to be there. Check out the official statement below:
Newport Beach, Calif. (August 19, 2014) – Bellator President Scott Coker has released a statement regarding Eddie Alvarez:
“We’ve granted Eddie his unconditional release. Eddie is free to explore the free agent market, we hold no matching rights, and we wish him the best in the future. We sat down with Eddie and his team a few times, and it became pretty clear early on that he just wasn’t interested in fighting for Bellator in the future. We want guys in this organization that want to be here, and after the history Eddie and the former regime had here at Bellator, we decided to move on. We wish Eddie the absolute best of luck with whatever is next for him. It’s a new chapter for everyone involved.”
Eddie Alvarez has also released a statement:
“This was a long process but it’s a decision that everyone seems happy with. I think it’s important to say that I am genuinely thankful for my time at Bellator. I know that sounds a little crazy given everything I went through, but I’ve fought there since 2009, and have been involved in some really amazing fights. The staff there always treated me great, and I’m going to miss seeing a lot of those familiar faces around for sure. Myself and my team had some really good discussions with Scott, but in my heart I knew I was ready to move on and start the next chapter in my career.”
It seems like a foregone conclusion that Alvarez will sign with the UFC, considering how hard they’ve courted him in the past. We’ll let you know when it’s official.
(Melendez tags Diego Sanchez during their three-round dogfight in October. / Photo via Getty)
Gilbert Melendez is officially back in the UFC — and he’ll be getting another lightweight title shot later this year. According to a press release distributed last night, Melendez has agreed to a new contract with the UFC, and will challenge reigning champ Anthony Pettis for his belt after the two 155-pounders appear as rival coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 20: The Strawweights. The season will begin filming in May, and will premiere on FOX Sports 1 on September 10th. The date and venue for Pettis vs. Melendez haven’t been announced yet.
Outside of the TUF gig, which almost seems like punishment, Melendez’s brief flirtation with free agency couldn’t have gone any better. Before Bellator tried to snap him up, Melendez was being offered high-risk, low-reward fights against undefeated Russians in the UFC, along with contract terms that were clearly less than he was hoping for. Now, his price has been pumped up in a bidding war, and he’ll be strolling right back into a title fight. (It seems likely that Bellator offered Melendez an immediate title shot themselves, and the UFC was forced to match this perk in order to secure a new contract for El Niño.)
And so, the UFC hangs on to one of the most talented and entertaining lightweights in the world, and the fans get to keep watching Melendez on MMA’s biggest stage. The only loser here is Bjorn Rebney, who was thrilled at the prospect of having Melendez on his roster, only to have the UFC re-sign him, basically out of spite. Ah well. At least he can comfort himself with the fact that he performed a very important role in the marketplace.
(Melendez tags Diego Sanchez during their three-round dogfight in October. / Photo via Getty)
Gilbert Melendez is officially back in the UFC — and he’ll be getting another lightweight title shot later this year. According to a press release distributed last night, Melendez has agreed to a new contract with the UFC, and will challenge reigning champ Anthony Pettis for his belt after the two 155-pounders appear as rival coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 20: The Strawweights. The season will begin filming in May, and will premiere on FOX Sports 1 on September 10th. The date and venue for Pettis vs. Melendez haven’t been announced yet.
Outside of the TUF gig, which almost seems like punishment, Melendez’s brief flirtation with free agency couldn’t have gone any better. Before Bellator tried to snap him up, Melendez was being offered high-risk, low-reward fights against undefeated Russians in the UFC, along with contract terms that were clearly less than he was hoping for. Now, his price has been pumped up in a bidding war, and he’ll be strolling right back into a title fight. (It seems likely that Bellator offered Melendez an immediate title shot themselves, and the UFC was forced to match this perk in order to secure a new contract for El Niño.)
And so, the UFC hangs on to one of the most talented and entertaining lightweights in the world, and the fans get to keep watching Melendez on MMA’s biggest stage. The only loser here is Bjorn Rebney, who was thrilled at the prospect of having Melendez on his roster, only to have the UFC re-sign him, basically out of spite. Ah well. At least he can comfort himself with the fact that he performed a very important role in the marketplace.
