A. Iaquinta (left) spared no criticism of the UFC (Photo: Jeff Bottari/UFC)
the american To the fifth had one of the most impressive performances in the UFC Nashville, which took place last Saturday (22). But the devastating knockout over Diego Sánchez wasn't enough for the lightweight to earn a performance bonus, worth US$50. Irritated by the prize system initiated by Ultimate, the fighter harshly criticized the company and even cursed the event's president, Dana White.
See too
Iaquinta spent almost two years out of the Octagon due to contractual differences with the UFC, in addition to serious injuries. The North American, who trains with Chris Weidman, aljamain sterling e Gian Villante, was ineligible to receive the performance bonus for a season after criticizing Ultimate through his social networks.
“I hate this bonus even more. I don't know if they didn't give it to me because I didn't deserve it or if they didn't give it to me as a provocation, because they said in the past that I couldn't earn it. This whole bonus thing is ridiculous. It's a way to control everyone. I don't understand how everyone thinks it's normal. A $50 bonus. That's triple what some of these guys are making. It's not a bonus, it's money that changes your life. It's their way of controlling you. This way, fighters have to suck up to the UFC. Whoever comes to the microphone and thanks the UFC, Dana White, whoever… these people get bonuses”, said Iaquinta in an interview with the program The MMA Hour.
One of the points of disagreement between UFC and Iaquinta is the company's agreement with Reebok. The lightweight says he lost a lot of sponsorship when he was no longer able to expose other brands during his fights and now has a second job, as a real estate agent. The American got angry when talking about the Reebok issue and said that Dana White could “f….”
“They say that the agreement with Reebok is an investment for the future. Okay, so invest in the future and help the fighters form a union. If you guys help, I guarantee we can work with the Reebok deal. We could find a way to make everyone happy. But shove a piece of paper in my face and say “Either sign this or you’re fired.” I want to tell him to go fuck himself…That's not how it works. That’s not how it’s done and the Reebok deal could really be good,” he concluded.
Comments