G. Melendez (photo) has been out of contract with the UFC since October last year. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
Dana White, president of the UFC, was not irritated by Gilbert Melendez's possible move to Bellator. The lightweight was unsuccessful in renewing his contract with the UFC and is in negotiations with the rival organization, although nothing has yet been made official.
At a press conference given in preparation for UFC 170, this weekend, White appeared to have accepted the fighter's decision. “Gilbert is testing the market, which is good for him. I don’t have any resentment towards Gilbert Melendez,” he said, according to the North American website “MMA Fighting”.
Bjorn Rebney, Bellator's executive director, said Melendez will be just the first top UFC fighter to switch organizations. White, in turn, was dismissive. “That guy is completely crazy,” he said.
According to the UFC boss, Bellator has extremely strict contracts with its fighters. “People are trying to get the hell out of that place. They are locked into a contract and can't get out. Look what they did to Eddie Alvarez. He only fought once in two years or so. They promised all kinds of things that they never managed to fulfill. The difference is that we don't sue our fighters. We don’t screw with them”, he compared. “Do you think [Michael] Chandler wants to be there? Chandler is thinking he doesn't want to sign this crap contract. Everyone talks like the UFC is the bad guy, but they are. They are the ones who have these contracts that no one can get out of”, concluded White.
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