The lesson that Jon Fitch learned when he lost his job with the UFC is a simple one: If you're a big enough draw to fight in the main event of a pay-per-view, you've got some leverage with UFC. If you're not, you don't.In the case of Fitch, he had his chance when he was in the main event at UFC 87, where he lost to Georges St. Pierre. If he had won that fight, he'd be the UFC welterweight champion of the world, and the UFC wouldn't be so quick to cut him loose for refusing to sign over the rights to his name and likeness in a video game. By losing that fight, he lost any leverage. He's just not a big enough draw for the UFC to care all that much about losing him.
This isn't a judgment about who's right and who's wrong on the merits in the dispute between Fitch and the UFC. It's just the reality of the business: There are a handful of fighters who make enough money for the UFC that the UFC can't afford to cut them loose. Fitch is not in that handful.
I got to thinking about how many fighters who are so important to the promotion that they have real leverage with the UFC, and I could only come up with 14. My list is below. I'm curious to hear yours.
Michael Bisping
Randy Couture
Rashad Evans
Forrest Griffin
Matt Hughes
Rampage Jackson
Brock Lesnar
Chuck Liddell
Frank Mir
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
B.J. Penn
Anderson Silva
Wanderlei Silva
Georges St. Pierre
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-20-2008 @ 11:40AM
Myron said...
Much as I hate to say it, your list is way too long. Dana needs Lesnar because he's the new star and he needs Bisping because he wants to expand in England. After that he can tell everyone else to take a hike.
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11-20-2008 @ 12:00PM
Frederick said...
Like I said previously I would love to see the UFC expand there roster but that is not in there plans I think. They do not want to over commit in contracts
thats why guys like Werdum and fitch have no power with the UFC and that is why I do think there is a need for other rival promotions
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11-20-2008 @ 2:02PM
Slim said...
I think your list might be a tad long MDS. I don't think Hughes will draw like he has in the past and he is near retirement, with his prime clearly behind him. Though Evans has a KO of Lidell, I'm not sure he has top drawing power quite yet. I do see, however, why you would put him on this list because he is a legitimate contender. As far as Mir and Nog go, I'm not sure they themselves are big draws either. I haven't heard much hype around their fight; the hype for Lesnar/Couture, Penn/GSP, Griffin/Evans and Rampage/Wanderlei has gotten much more pub.
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11-20-2008 @ 2:37PM
Eric said...
I agree with Slim.
Hughes, Mir, and Nogueira aren't big draws. Nogueira deserves much more attention than he is getting ... hopefully TUF will help.
Bisping is only a big draw because of his UK fans. 185 isn't a very deep division, and I could still name 8-10 fighters that I believe would beat him. The UFC needs to protect him if they don't want to burst the Bisping bubble.
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11-20-2008 @ 3:09PM
Nick said...
Fighter leverage list:
1. Brock Lesnar
2. Anderson Silva
3. George St. Pierre
4. BJ Penn
5. Forrest Griffin
Michael Bispbing ---the Ultimate Fighters
Rashad Evans
6. Noguera
7. Frank Mir
8. Rampage Jackson
9. Wanderlei Silva
10. Kenny Florian
11. Tiago Pitbull Alves
12. Napao Gonzaga
13. Matt Hughes
14. Matt Serra
15. Rich Franklin
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11-20-2008 @ 3:31PM
Brayan said...
Zuffa bought pride and its assets and contracts. However, the Companies are set as 2 different entities. Pride is under a similar name even though it is controlled by Zuffa. This means that fighters from Pride like Nog are more stable in staying in the UFC. Dana Does not have total control of Pride fighters though he does have some pull.
The point is that Pride fighters have their own fan following and size and are managed with the intent to keep the fanbase overseas healthy.
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11-20-2008 @ 4:49PM
tpinmc said...
At this point I don't any fighters there have any leverage or pull at all. It's the UFC way or the Highway. UFC will give what they think is fair or "buh bye".
Hopefully Zuffa/Dana are generous enough to keep this guys in the cage. Period.
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