Ortega stands by decision to not fight at UFC 226: ‘I’m no yes man’

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Wild

Zi Nazi
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Dec 31, 2014
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A week ago, Brian Ortega was getting ready for the biggest fight of his life. The top featherweight contender was set to face off with 145-pound champion Max Holloway at UFC 226 on Saturday, but Holloway was forced out of the fight due to a medical condition that seemed to be a concussion. Ortega was asked to stay on the card by the UFC to fight Jeremy Stephens, but ultimately declined that request.

Ortega has been criticized by some for that decision. To get out in front of it, he took to social media to address the situation, saying that he’s a company man, but not a yes man:



Brian Ortega stands by decision to not fight at UFC 226: ‘I’m no yes man’
 

Joemacka

Bisping is GOAT
Oct 19, 2015
5,060
8,874
Listened to this yesterday. Ortega said he only cares about the belt but then complained about Dana not paying him.
 
Nov 21, 2015
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A week ago, Brian Ortega was getting ready for the biggest fight of his life. The top featherweight contender was set to face off with 145-pound champion Max Holloway at UFC 226 on Saturday, but Holloway was forced out of the fight due to a medical condition that seemed to be a concussion. Ortega was asked to stay on the card by the UFC to fight Jeremy Stephens, but ultimately declined that request.

Ortega has been criticized by some for that decision. To get out in front of it, he took to social media to address the situation, saying that he’s a company man, but not a yes man:



Brian Ortega stands by decision to not fight at UFC 226: ‘I’m no yes man’


Fine... sometimes a single fighter must be destroyed in order
to save the whole organization - Egg Thanos



View: https://www.instagram.com/p/BlECgXnB11L/?taken-by=kamurashops
 

Bozy

OOHH YOU DIDNT KNOW!?
Feb 22, 2015
7,365
6,541
Listened to this yesterday. Ortega said he only cares about the belt but then complained about Dana not paying him.
Dana asks you to fight a lower ranked guy and you say no. Then get mad that you don't get paid.
 

Joemacka

Bisping is GOAT
Oct 19, 2015
5,060
8,874
Dana asks you to fight a lower ranked guy and you say no. Then get mad that you don't get paid.
Exactly. Its not the UFCs fault Holloway pulled out. The UFC offered another fight for Ortega to get paid and he didnt want it.
 

La Paix

Fuck this place
First 100
Jan 14, 2015
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Listened to this yesterday. Ortega said he only cares about the belt but then complained about Dana not paying him.
They've paid fighters in the past when they haven't fought for one reason or another. Most recently all those who missed fights for Conor's bus attack got paid. Also when UFC 151 was cancelled lots of fighters received some sort of compensation.
 

Joemacka

Bisping is GOAT
Oct 19, 2015
5,060
8,874
They've paid fighters in the past when they haven't fought for one reason or another. Most recently all those who missed fights for Conor's bus attack got paid. Also when UFC 151 was cancelled lots of fighters received some sort of compensation.
Totally different circumstances. None of those refused to fight.
 

Bozy

OOHH YOU DIDNT KNOW!?
Feb 22, 2015
7,365
6,541
Totally different circumstances. None of those refused to fight.
This. Could you imagine the potential bonus he Could be gotten had he accepted. Then went on to finish Stephens in Epic Fashion? He would be a World Champion and PAID!!! Now. He's begging for money and not sure when or who his next fight is.
 

La Paix

Fuck this place
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Jan 14, 2015
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Totally different circumstances. None of those refused to fight.
I thinks it's expected to get your show money regardless.

Once in a while, a fighter will be paid full show and win money. But typically, it’s just the show portion of the fight purse – and that win bonus, and potential for performance bonuses in the UFC’s case, have to wait for another time

Daily Debate: How should fighters be paid if fight is pulled last-minute because of opponent?

Better example. Namajumas vs Ansaroff

The fight between the two strawweights was canceled the next day, just two hours before the May 23 pay-per-view event began. The reason? Doctors deemed Ansaroff unfit to compete due to the flu.

Despite the fact that the two never set foot in the octagon, the UFC paid both fighters their contracted fight purses, or “show money” (Namajunas also received 20 percent of her opponent’s purse after Ansaroff missed weight). The promotion also paid Namajunas the equivalent of her win bonus:


Late fight cancellations? Here's what happens with UFC's new athlete outfitting policy
 

Sheepdog

Protecting America from excessive stool loitering
Dec 1, 2015
8,912
14,237
I dislike this handsome and charming young man who is a great fighter and I don't know why.

'What's that Lassie?' 'There's latent homosexuality repressed down the old well?' 'You're breaking up Lassie, you know I don't speak Spanish'.
 

Joemacka

Bisping is GOAT
Oct 19, 2015
5,060
8,874
I thinks it's expected to get your show money regardless.

Once in a while, a fighter will be paid full show and win money. But typically, it’s just the show portion of the fight purse – and that win bonus, and potential for performance bonuses in the UFC’s case, have to wait for another time

Daily Debate: How should fighters be paid if fight is pulled last-minute because of opponent?

Better example. Namajumas vs Ansaroff

The fight between the two strawweights was canceled the next day, just two hours before the May 23 pay-per-view event began. The reason? Doctors deemed Ansaroff unfit to compete due to the flu.

Despite the fact that the two never set foot in the octagon, the UFC paid both fighters their contracted fight purses, or “show money” (Namajunas also received 20 percent of her opponent’s purse after Ansaroff missed weight). The promotion also paid Namajunas the equivalent of her win bonus:


Late fight cancellations? Here's what happens with UFC's new athlete outfitting policy
I dont agree. They are all different circumstances and should be dealt with differently. In that instance i think the UFC did the right thing there by both fighters.

If the UFC couldnt find Ortega a viable replacement then he should have got his show money but he was given an opportunity to fight for an interim belt on fight week as the co-mainevent and turned it down. You cant tell me the UFC should still pay him.
 

jason73

Yuri Bezmenov was right
First 100
Jan 15, 2015
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there should be a replacement fighter named in the contract who is getting paid to train as a replacement in case either man cant fight.if either max or ortega get injured then the replacement steps in. if not find the alternate a fight on the next card. this should be done for every main and co main event
 

Sheepdog

Protecting America from excessive stool loitering
Dec 1, 2015
8,912
14,237
there should be a replacement fighter named in the contract who is getting paid to train as a replacement in case either man cant fight.if either max or ortega get injured then the replacement steps in. if not find the alternate a fight on the next card. this should be done for every main and co main event
I like the idea but I think it would be unfair for the challenger to be contractually obliged to potentially fight multiple more contenders and you a going to find that adding several more layers to fight contract negotiations will make them even harder to pull off ('quiet, Lassie'), and that it creates scheduling issues with constantly inactive contenders.

So I would do something similar, but a little different. Rather than have a 'reserve' insurance fighter, I would simply ensure that there is another decent fight in the division on the card (doesn't have to be the next in line, just some top 10 fighters) and tell the champion in advance that he will be expected to fight one of them if the challenger pulls out ('what now, Lassie?'). What will make it work is if you just start stripping champions ruthlessly. If champion knows he might be stripped, he will be more reluctant to turn down the new challenger and obviously if the contender is suddenly fighting for the real belt even against someone else, he likely won't turn down the fight.
 

ECC170

Monster's 11,ATM 2,Parlay Challenge,Hero GP Champ
Pro Fighter
Jan 23, 2015
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The day dfw has to worry about getting his ass whipped by a guy he hasn't trained for is the day he shouldn't pay somebody... heaven forbid somebody doesn't risk everything they've worked for just to appease that fat fk.
 

KWingJitsu

ยาเม็ดสีแดงหรือสีฟ้ายา?
Nov 15, 2015
10,311
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I dislike this handsome and charming young man who is a great fighter and I don't know why.

'What's that Lassie?' 'There's latent homosexuality repressed down the old well?' 'You're breaking up Lassie, you know I don't speak Spanish'.
The steroid Asterix imo.
But I support his going rogue style...
 

La Paix

Fuck this place
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Jan 14, 2015
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I dont agree. They are all different circumstances and should be dealt with differently. In that instance i think the UFC did the right thing there by both fighters.

If the UFC couldnt find Ortega a viable replacement then he should have got his show money but he was given an opportunity to fight for an interim belt on fight week as the co-mainevent and turned it down. You cant tell me the UFC should still pay him.
I'd have to know details in contract to really take a stance here. Precedent has been set that others have been paid for not fighting so it's a matter of him making his case. I'd like to see all fighters get something for their efforts if the bout they agree to falls through due to their opponents short comings but im not about to tweet out my fake outrage to Dana.

I don't blame Ortega or anyone else for not taking late notice title fight changes. I love it when they do bit can't fault them for putting themselves first.
 

Howard Moon

Posting Machine
Sep 6, 2015
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I'd like to see all fighters get something for their efforts if the bout they agree to falls through
This is the crucial point, imo. There should be no penalty for a ranked fighter refusing a last minute replacement. There is too much at stake. If they choose to face a replacement, fine, but it should not be forced on them.

I think we get distracted by our own desire for a good fight and forget how much is on the line for these guys. It's our entertainment, it's their lives and careers. It's fair to be disappointed, but not to belittle a fighter who looks out for himself. You know Egg and Shelby's first concern is NOT a fighter's career.
 

Filthy

Iowa Wrestling Champion
Jun 28, 2016
27,507
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FWIW - Brian was really devastated last weekend, the fight cancellation, followed by the Danus name-calling really took a toll.

But he's a pro. He did all his media rounds, and still managed to go to a seminar at Mika's that Rener/Ryron put on, and stayed for at least an hour after taking pictures, shaking hands, signing stuff. And then he came up to the suite after the fights and made the rounds saying hi to everyone and chatting. Mind you, a lot of those people at fights and seminar are giving a 'really bummed, made this trip just to see you fight' comments. That's not easy to take from hundreds of people. I got sick of hearing it, and it wasn't even directed at me.

I think it's Mucho Bullshit for Egg-On-Face to talk shit at fighters for not taking last minute fights

A) Dana has no idea what it takes to get to that level, and try to fight someone of Stephens caliber on 2-days notice.
B) Dana doesn't have a history of treating 'yes men' any better than he treats guys who stand up for their own interests
C) It was probably the most stacked card of the year. If any card didn't need "saving", it was this card.
D) It's Dana. The guy is about 10 years past his usefulness in MMA, and he's a hindrance to the growth of the sport.
 

Mace

Prophet of poon
Oct 29, 2015
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He never said he expected nor was requesting his full pay. His contracted amount for the Max fight was a flat amount, not show and win. He said his request to Dana was the amount of his pay to cover his training camp. I understand people having opinions on both sides of his situation and neither side is right or wrong. But, when he made that decision it wasn't known yet that Max may be out a lot longer than 227 or possibly 228. He did not give any excuses for declining a replacement fight. He put in a full camp, was doing all fight week media and was starting his weight cut when Max was pulled. In the past two days he has said that if it's true Max is out for a while he should vacate and Brian will fight Jeremy or any fighter they choose for the title. He and his team have worked hard to get to this point and he has made a lot of sacrifices in life to be where he is at his age. As ECC said earlier, why risk the opportunity he has earned to please a two faced as fuck promoter and fans that feel like they're owed. He and his team are smart to view it as the what did you do for me today situation that this is a glaring example of and choose to not be a part of it.
 

Wild

Zi Nazi
Admin
Dec 31, 2014
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Listened to Jeremy Stephens on Helwani today and he said he was told by the UFC to be ready leading up to this fight. He was 160 lbs the Wednesday before the PPV and said he could have made weight.
 

FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
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I'd have to know details in contract to really take a stance here.
Bout agreements are for that fight only.
The commission overseas that
They have the AC reported pay from the promoters & could pay the fighters if it was in the bout agreements, but they are not.
Ask Aj Garcia @Aj Garcia about being fucked out of money & tickets & having to pay to watch the show he was supposed to fight on
In some states they have a "if you weigh in, you get your show money" rule.
Vegas does not.

UFC has given partial or full show money in the past, depending on circumstances.

WME are a lot tougher on this than Lorenzo era.
So this is not on DW.
If you think he should be paid camp expenses, I can completely see that as a compromise & this is where WME are more adherent to the signed word than Lorenzo & certainly where the blame (for lack of better wording) should fall.