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Former UFC Title Contender Sells Fight Gear To Finance Camp

This former UFC title contender had to sell her fight gear to make ends meet.

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Despite being happy with her pay, former UFC title contender Jessica Andrade says she sold her training gear to pay for her next camp.

Andrade, 26, faces Karolina Kowalkiewicz at next weekend’s (Sept. 8 2018) UFC 228 in Dallas, Texas. The Brazilian will be looking for her third straight victory, a feat that would perhaps put “Bate Estaca” in line for another title shot.

Speaking with reporters at a UFC media day event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, (courtesy of MMA Fighting) Andrade revealed how she has to sometimes sell her training gear to pay ends meet.

Sponsors & Selling Gear:

”I’m going to my 14th fight in the UFC and it’s really difficult to get sponsors, to get people who want to help you financially,” Andrade said. “Sometimes we have to sell UFC clothes, backpack, gloves, stuff like that, to make some extra money to finish a camp. It’s quite difficult, but we go on.”

”I think it would be great if we had a bigger incentive from the government and the city in sports,” she continued. “Not only in fighting, but it lacks a lot for all sports. It would be great if we had this support from people, from businessman, to say ‘we will help.’ Even if it’s only with 500 reais ($120), because 500 reais makes a huge difference by the end of the month [laughs].”

Andrade, however, says she thinks her pay is fair. Her disclosed pay for her last fight against Tecia Torres at UFC on FOX 28 was $96,000 ($48,000 + $48,000). “Bate Estaca” also believes women are more active fighters than men because of the pay inadequacy.

”I have nothing to complain with the UFC because I get paid really well in the UFC,” Andrade said. “I think you’re paid according to your work, and I think that’s really cool. That’s why I want to be fighting all the time, to show that I’m the best, that I’m evolving, because the more you show, the more you get paid.”

”I’m expecting an improvement, but it’s getting better,” Andrade said. “One day I will be able to invest in some other thing and won’t have this problem of having to fight only to get paid.”

Soldiering On:

With Dana White recently stating that the UFC is now worth $7 billion dollars, some people can find Andrade’s claim of selling her gear down right disgusting.

It is difficult at times, she says, but she soldiers on.

”It’s difficult, but we get by the way we can, right?” Andrade said. “I usually am a strong person and I don’t show anything to others even if I’m going through some difficulties, not even for my master (Gilliard Parana). I get by, Fernanda and I, my mother-in-law. Sometimes we bake a cake and sell, we get by the way we can. It’s sad that we have to sell our training gear, things we get in fights that are a good memory of what we had there, but we’ll get new stuff later [laughs]. I have so many of these white hoodies with my name on that no problem selling one, right? [laughs].”

”We have to go through difficulties to grow,” she continued. “Even though the UFC is millionaire, trillionaire, we have to live our reality. Unfortunately, the UFC makes all that, we don’t. But I’m happy with my job, happy with my salary. I never imagined I would be making as much as I make. My master usually says in training, ‘Jessica made a million reais ($241,765) last year. I look at him and say ‘you liar, I didn’t make that much, it was a bit less’ [laughs], but it’s about knowing how to invest. When I learn to invest in something that brings a result, everything will be alright and I won’t go through many difficulties.”

The Plan

Andrade has a plan. It’s to invest in local establishments back home in Brazil. Winning some bonus money could help that dream become a reality.

”When I got in the UFC, we would always get a little extra pay-per-view bonus and everything else,” Andrade said. “We won’t make that much anymore because of Reebok. But we would always get an extra percentage of the card. So if it was a good card, every athlete would get a small percentage of the pay-per-view, a percentage of the video game. We don’t get that today anymore.”

”I think that should come back, us getting those extra little bonuses. In my first fights, I got $8,000 outside of my purse and sponsors. When I was short of money, that little bonus came and wow, that really helped [laughs]. That was great, that really helped us. I think we should have that again.”

”But I’m really happy with my job, really happy with how much I’m paid. I think it can get better, but it’s good for me for now. I only have to know how to take care of my money [laughs].”

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Report: UFC Upset With Conor McGregor’s ‘Attitude’ Heading Into UFC 229

The UFC isn’t happy with Conor McGregor’s attitude before UFC 229.

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The UFC is reportedly upset with Conor McGregor’s ‘attitude’ heading into his awaited return.

The superstar will face lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov at October 6’s UFC 229. The fight is McGregor’s first trip back to the cage since his TKO victory over Eddie Alvarez in November 2016. McGregor won the 155-pound title but was stripped due to inactivity.

‘The Eagle’ now holds the belt after defeating Al Iaquinta at April’s UFC 223. McGregor was arrested for his now-infamous bus attack at the Barlcays Center in Brooklyn. He reached a plea deal on assault charges last month. His massive return was announced before August 4’s UFC 227 from Los Angeles, California.

Lack Of Hype

The hype for what many are calling the biggest fight in UFC history hasn’t seemingly gone into overdrive just yet, however. McGregor has been largely unseen despite only the fact five weeks remain until the bout. Apparently, that’s causing discord with his employers. The UFC is frustrated with his attitude according to f4wonline.com (via MMA Mania):

“One of the reasons you haven’t seen much in the way of interviews and such is that McGregor has not agreed to do anything. There are no press conferences scheduled because McGregor at this point hasn’t agreed to them. There is a lot of frustration within the UFC about McGregor’s attitude, but in the end, he’s got the leverage and the ticket sales and secondary market results only give him more leverage.

The feeling is that this may be the biggest non-boxing PPV of all-time, and the only reason it wouldn’t be is that McGregor hasn’t been pushing it hard. McGregor was able to get a larger piece of the action for this fight than any of his UFC fights to date, so there is a direct correlation more than ever between his work in promoting the fight and his pocket book, but this may also show that he knows he’s in a real fight and doesn’t want to break training.”

McGregor may just be focused on training to beat the undefeated Nurmagomedov. He did the same thing prior to his UFC 202 rematch with Nate Diaz after losing their first fight. ‘The Eagle’ is being deemed McGregor’s toughest challenge in the octagon. The likewise could be said for the champion because of McGregor’s otherworldly striking accuracy and power.

Record-Setting Potential

The megafight is being discussed as the first UFC fight to earn 2 million buys on pay-per-view. That would be a record by a large margin. If the fight fails to reach its record-setting potential, many will point to the lack of promotion as the reason.

McGregor’s rematch with Diaz at UFC 202 in 2016 drew a reported 1.6 million buys to stand as the current record-holder. It would seem Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor would break that rather easily based on the situation. Were the fight not to reach 2 million buys, at least some disappointment would foster for the UFC. The promotion needs a massive pay-per-view more than ever during a year of struggling PPV sales and television ratings.

That’s why they need McGregor promoting the fight. He simply may not be willing to at this point.

Does the UFC have a right to be upset with Conor McGregor’s attitude heading into UFC 229?

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Donald Cerrone Absolutely Destroys Jackson-Wink MMA

Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone just went off on his longtime gym Jackson-Wink MMA.

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It’s apparently time that “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone absolutely destroys Jackson-Wink MMA.

Cerrone is gearing up for a fight against Mike Perry at UFC Fight Night 139 in Denver, Colorado. But as “Cowboy” tells it, there just may be some dissension in the ranks over at his longtime camp Jackson-Wink.

Appearing on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast earlier today (Wednesday, Aug 29, 2018) Cerrone explained how he found himself in a rather uncomfortable position heading into his fight with Perry.

“I went to talk to Greg and Wink and say, ‘Hey, this guy’s brand new to the gym. He’s only been here one camp, a couple of months. I don’t think that it’s okay for him to come in and call me out. That’s not right. So if he is doing that, I don’t think we should allow him to train here for this fight,’” Cerrone said. “Then f*ck*ng Winkeljohn tells me, ‘I thought you called him out’, he’s just a sh*t-*ss and lies to your face, so to me he was like, ‘Sure, no problem, we’ll clear it up and we won’t have any issues.’”

Cerrone said that Winkeljohn called him the very next day. The team met and decided that Perry could train at the gym for his upcoming fight against Cerrone himself. “Cowboy” has a theory, that is, he has always directly dealt with coach Greg Jackson on all financial dealing. However, Perry’s dealings were directly through coach Winkeljohn.

Cerrone feels that longtime coach Greg Jackson should’ve had his back on this one.

“With Greg, his name is on that building. It’s Jackson-Wink. Jackson-f*ck*ng-Wink,” Cerrone said. “When it came time to pick the decision and they said, ‘We want to go with Perry.’ Why the f*ck didn’t you stand — because Greg’s still with me — he’s like, ‘I’ll just come to the ranch and we’ll sort this out.’ And I’m like, ‘What the f*ck are you talking about?’ You tell me I can’t come into the Jackson-Wink gym, but you’re going to backdoor and come into my f*cking house and we’re going to train to fight while Perry’s there at the gym.”

“You see everything he does and then you’re going to come and you’re going to train me, not to mention you’re holding classes there and — you might not be training him to beat me, but there’s a lot of people there that have trained with me for f*ck*ng years. So to me, that was the point I was saying. Can we just not have him there for this camp?”

Cerrone stated that ever since Jackson and Winkeljohn partnered up back in 2007, that the training has been subpar. Cerrone blames Winkeljohn for putting profit over the quality and individuality of training. He also believes that Winkeljohn was none too happy about his decision to branch off and create his own gym, the BMF Ranch.

“When Winklejohn merged over, all the big pros left, it turned into a puppy mill,” Cerrone said. “Back when Greg had it, and it was its own school, you couldn’t turn up to a pro class. Some guy couldn’t just come here, knock on your door, and the next thing you know he has shin pads on and he’s sparring.”

“Literally at the new gym, bums come in off the street — I swear to God — and will come in and put stuff on and fight. That’s a true story. Random bums off the street. That would never happen back in the day.”

Cerrone believes that mismanagement of fighters is the number one reason why the gym isn’t the powerhouse it once was. At one point Jackson-Wink was the marquee destination for elite fighters.

“You should have an infrastructure set in place, especially if you’re the greatest at one time,” Cerrone said. “If your winning percentages are in the 80s and 90s and now they’re in the 20s. I have no clue what the winning record of our gym is, but it’s nothing like it used to be. It’s f*cking asinine to me.”

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Jake Ellenberger Was Perfect Throwback To MMA Era Long Gone

Jake Ellenberger embodied a more old-school era of MMA.

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Last night saw the retirement of one of the UFC’s most hardened veterans when Jake Ellenberger laid his gloves down in the cage following a TKO loss to Bryan Barberena on the main card of UFC Lincoln.

It was his fourth straight loss by T/KO, and “The Juggernaut” felt it was time. Calling it in his home state in front of the crowd in the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., Ellenberger was understandably emotional. He thanked his family and loved ones in addition to the crowds he had fought for for so long.

At the end of the day, he knew his long MMA career had come to a conclusion:

“There’s no better place for me to set the gloves down and say it’s time to move on than the place where it all started,

“I’ve fought here my whole life,” Ellenberger said. “It’s been since 2005. I’ve gotta tell you, it means the world to me. Thank you guys, I love you.”

End Of An Era

Many in the fast-paced online world of mixed martial arts will point to the fact that Ellenberger had lost nine of his previous 11 bouts. He stepped down in the place where his career started to make it go full circle. Few can say that no matter what their recent records were.

So regardless of your view of his timing, Ellenberger’s body of work is something to be respected. It ended even a little too soon in his eyes. After the fight he told MMAjunkie he wished it would have lasted a little longer, but had to think about his kids:

“I don’t know. My kids … their future and time with them has really encouraged that decision. But this is the toughest sport in the world. It really is, and things don’t always go your way.

“I would say it came a little shorter than I would have liked, but that’s what it is right now. So I’m in the process of moving forward.”

Indeed the fight game is perhaps the most unforgiving pro sport. And that’s especially true in today’s social media-driven climate, where exposure and followers are as important as your ranking. Many will argue the rankings mean little based on how the current UFC regime gives out fights.

That was never how Ellenberger fought.

Throwback To An Era Long Past

Ellenberger was the perfect throwback to an era of MMA long gone by. Asked about his retirement in the lead-up to UFC Lincoln, Ellenberger said he would go fight in regional promotions or smokers if he was cut by the UFC. He ultimately and wisely decided against that after another knockout loss, but “The Juggernaut” still embodied the old fighting spirit of mixed martial arts.

Fighting since 2005, Ellenberger was a combatant who fought often and against anyone. His list of welterweight foes is a who’s who of 170-pound greatness. It includes Rory MacDonald, Robbie Lawler, Carlos Condit, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, Jake Shields, Josh Koscheck, Diego Sanchez, and Matt Brown.

He owns wins over Shields, Brown, Koscheck, Sanchez, and Nate Marquardt. His record ended with an amazing 46 professional fights in an era where some get title shots with less than 15 pro fights. Ellenberger once fought seven times professionally in a year. He was once regarded as one of the top welterweights in the world following his win over Diego Sanchez in Omaha, Nebraska, in early 2012. While he never climbed that mountain, Ellenberger truly fought anyone at any time.

Many fighters today may say they will, but with the risk of a top-class or short-notice fight often too much, they don’t always follow through. Ellenberger always did, and he was one of the most active welterweights the UFC had for quite some time. Maybe the miles added a bit too quick because of it, leading to mounting knockout losses to where he could no longer continue.

He won’t be fighting in the smokers after all, but Jake Ellenberger is and always will be the spirit that makes fighters rise out of obscurity to the top level of pro MMA.

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Al Iaquinta Has Given Up On The UFC Getting Behind Him

Al Iaquinta’s UFC career continues to look unclear.

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Al Iaquinta has given up on the UFC ever getting behind him even more than ever.

“Ragin” was initially expected to be facing Justin Gaethje in the main event of this weekend’s (Sat. August 25, 2018) UFC Lincoln card. The Long Islander was forced off the card and will instead be enjoying the view of the beach, which is 10 minutes away from his house.

In an interview with MMA Fighting, Iaquinta revealed that the money he makes selling houses as a real estate agent is comparable to that of his show money in the UFC:

“Basically, in the time that I would have trained for that fight, I made as much money selling real estate,” Iaquinta said.

“So, it’s not a money thing. I enjoyed my summer, I wasn’t going to bed injured every night, I wasn’t waking up with a sore neck.

“I didn’t have to worry about Justin Gaethje’s crazy ***. I’m doing what I want to do. If they made it worth it for me, I would have. I’m making my show money in that amount of time when these deals close out.

“It’s crazy that a real estate agent on Long Island can make their show money for headlining a five-round fight against a top-six, top-seven guy in the world.”

Iaquinta said he injured his shoulder at UFC 223 fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov. Although it was an unsuccessful bid for the vacant UFC lightweight title, the 31-year-old showed a ton of heart and determination against the undefeated Russian grappler.

Ragin’ Realty

Upon getting the call to fight Gaethje, Iaquinta said he felt rushed by the UFC to get back into the Octagon . He also said he thought maybe the UFC was not looking out for Gaethje’s best interest either because he’s coming off back-to-back knockout losses:

“I was almost like, you’re not looking out for me and you’re not looking out for Gaethje,” Iaquinta said. “The guy just got pummeled his last three fights.

“You’re not looking out for him, you don’t care about me, because you didn’t even ask me how I’m feeling. They called me that night of the fight and a couple weeks later they offered me another fight. The rest of the fighters, they all would have taken the fight, you know what I mean? They all would have taken it and they would have had to push through the injury. I was like, you know what? F*ck this.

“I’m gonna make just as much money walking around, meeting people selling real estate. I’m making great connections with people like me — my kind of people. It’s a beautiful thing. So, my friends are buying houses. It’s just so much better. I had such a great time. The last two months of my life were just so much better. So much more stress free. And I made just as much money.

“Could I have fought Gaethje and got something? It really doesn’t matter. Shots come and go. It’s not even about winning and losing. I don’t know. The more I think about it, the more frustrated I get.”

Iaquinta’s Outlook

Right now, Iaquinta therefore is able to live his life at his pace. He’s training when he wants, improving when he wants and making great money due to it. At this point, he has given up on the UFC getting behind him – so he’s getting behind himself above all:

“I’m training, I’m having fun in the gym,” Iaquinta said. “I’m training when I want to train, I’m getting better when I want to get better. I don’t have to do anything.

“Am I missing out on opportunities? Maybe. It’s too much stress. I’m having fun with my life now. I’ve given up on the UFC getting behind me. So I’m just getting behind myself.”

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Francis Ngannou’s Coach Agrees With Dana White’s ‘Ego’ Callout

Even Francis Ngannou’s coach agrees with Dana White.

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It looks like Francis Ngannou’s coach agrees with Dana White’s “ego” callout.

Ngannou fought Derrick Lewis at UFC 226 earlier this summer. Many have called it the worst fight in UFC heavyweight history. Neither Ngannou or Lewis really engaged in any action.

Lewis was the aggressor of the pair, and wound up taking the decision victory. It was quite the fall from grace for “The Predator,” who had previously starched his opposition before his losing skid.

He’s now on a two-fight losing streak. Ngannou suffered his first UFC defeat in January. Stipe Miocic bested him in their UFC heavyweight title fight. Miocic took the knockout artist all five rounds and won the unanimous decision.

After his loss to Lewis, Ngannou has now lost two straight. UFC President Dana White had some interesting comments about the Franchman following UFC 226. He claimed Ngannou’s ego “ran away with him.”

Ngannou’s coach, Fernand Lopez, tells MMANews.pl (via MMA NYTT) that White’s comments carried some truth:

“The only thing I can say is Dana was speaking about Francis’ ego is probably one of the truths that I witnessed that Dana White said,” Lopez said.

“It’s probably the only truth that I know for a fact, that’s a fact. Why am I saying that? I’m saying that because Ngannou is like a brother for me and when you’re dealing with a brother, problems with your brother, you have to be honest with your brother so he can be a better man.

“In order to make Francis a better man, there are some people that have to have the bad role. The bad job is to tell Ngannou ‘You have a big ego and you have changed with the time.’

“That’s the truth. I had the conversation with Ngannou and I said to him ‘You have changed my friend, you have changed. You’re not the same anymore. Your ego is killing you and it’s just about your ego.’ That’s the thing like.”

Lopez mentioned that prior to his fight with Lewis, Ngannou was actually training with John Wood at Syndicate MMA. This is one reason Lopez believes he dropped the fight to “The Black Beast.” He also revealed that Ngannou didn’t stick to the gameplan they had against Stipe Miocic in January:

“All the time he was in Vegas he was still in my team,” Lopez said. “He never left the team, the membership. Every time he was asked if he was an MMA Factory member he didn’t let me down on that. He was always saying that. The only problem was, there’s never been a problem between us.

“During the last fight, we decided to make the camp with Syndicate MMA because the gym was close to the UFC Institute. So for his last fight, his mentor was John Wood of Syndicate.

“He called and said to me and asked me if I could come and assist him as a friend and as an assistant coach, which made sense and that was a good thing.

“But what I’m saying is the ego can make you go the wrong way and hurt people.

“Myself I got hurt with a lot of dedication to Francis’ career, I got hurt, a lot. When Francis lost the fight with Stipe, no one ever heard Francis say he lost because he didn’t follow the gameplan. He did the opposite of the gameplan that we worked.

“That loss for Francis, for the belt, had a huge impact for him, but also myself and my gym. Francis being world champion means that I’m a champion coach and that means the MMA Factory is a champion training camp.

“We missed that because he did not follow the gameplan. He followed the gameplans until the title shot and then the next fight (against Lewis) he was in Syndicate MMA.”

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