Matt Riddle: 'I'm the only fighter ever fired for marijuana'

[Wild]

Matt Riddle was a welterweight with a lot of promise. The TUF 7 contestant made his UFC debut at just 22 back in 2008, going a respectable 6-3 before running into some trouble with drug testing. Two of his next three fights ended up being flipped to No Contests due to Riddle's positive tests for marijuana, and after the second one the UFC elected to release him from the company.

It's been a while now, and Riddle has been vocal about his dislike for the way he was treated. But in a recent interview with SI.com, he took the story of his release to a whole different level:

SI.com: "Why were you fired from UFC while you were on a four-fight winning streak? Was Dana White's decision personal?"

Matt Riddle: "It was extremely personal. I'm the only fighter ever fired for marijuana. Everyone else gets suspended or a penalty. They just fired me because I was so vocal against testosterone replacement therapy. People knew I used marijuana, and I was always honest about it. Zuffa's attorney, Michael Mersch, called me and told me not to talk about it. At the time, UFC was trying to keep guys around like Chuck Liddell andWanderlei Silva, and they couldn't stick around unless they used testosterone. I didn't need that. I was 27 years old and in a four-fight win streak, so even though I'm ranked top ten in the world, their decision kept me in the shadows. Other guys have been suspended for failing drug tests, but they fired me, and that's why."

LINK: Matt Riddle: 'I'm the only fighter ever fired for marijuana'

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

A showcase of those top ten skills that he talks about in the article.


The kid is completely delusional.

 

[hit4me4]

His face annoys me.

 

[StillReal]

He was fired for being an absolutely terrible employee.

He gives marijuana a bad name.

 

[Narcosynthesis]

He caused it on himself. 2 of his last 4 fights in the UFC were ruled no contests due to testing positive for marijuana. 2 fights in which he won before being overturned.

I don't have a problem with marijuana at all. I wish it was legal everywhere but he knew the rules and chose his own path.

 

[Jonny Quest]

Some of his fights were hilarious. He would just keep punching and moving forward. Most of the time hitting zero.

 

[Left Hook Larry]

Can't complain when you knew the rules and chose to go against them

 

[BeardOfKnowledge]

Can't complain when you knew the rules and chose to go against them

Although I agree 100% that isn't the common response when Nick Diaz fails a drug test.

 

[jason73]

It was probably the comment that he smokes weed so he doesn't beat his kids that sealed his fate.obviously he didn't mean it literally but it sounds bad.

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

Although I agree 100% that isn't the common response when Nick Diaz fails a drug test.

Even Nick didn't fail a test as frequently Riddle did. He would have at least 2 or 3 fights between his failures haha

 

[sgotwalks]

I liked Matt Riddle.........and I thought it was a bullshit release as well. It was definitely political.

 

[Ryann Von Doom]

Not a fan of his.. but he's right about being fired for political reasons. But.. Karma gets you back, son.

 

[SongExotic2]

I liked Matt Riddle.........and I thought it was a bullshit release as well. It was definitely political.

he kept pissing hot for ganja and then gave it the ole billy big bollocks about how he diddnt care etc. its a banned substance, idc if it should be or not. he signed contracts agreeing to certain terms, and repeatedly broke those terms. its as justified a release by zuffa as ive ever seen.

 

[bully4me]

Not a fan of his.. but he's right about being fired for political reasons. But.. Karma gets you back, son.

Political in the sense the UFC or any other MMA org can't have fighters blatently disobeying the rules. Doesn't matter if it's weed or a PED, the rules say you can't use them. Unlike Diaz, this kids levels were showing recent use and high levels. Diaz at least tried to taper off before fights and had left over residual in his system. That and failing twice in a few fights just shows absolute NO regard for the rules. What could the UFC do? Even though he may have been a promising fighter the UFC couldn't let him get away with it? That would have shown a bad example for other fighters to break rules and think they could get away with it. He was the sacrificial lamb but it was Matt's own doing.

Riddle's comments on Chuck are unfounded as far as I know. Has The Ice Man ever been reported to have had been using TRT or had excess levels of TRT? At the time TRT was allowed with proper documantation (was a crock but still it was allowed). With Riddle's mouth he's a risk for any org that signs him, kind of acts like a spoiled kid. Anybody know if he still lives with his mom?

 

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Randleman RIP wanted that ass

 

[Ryann Von Doom]

Randleman RIP wanted that ass

JT$ did also...

 

[Wild]

I liked Matt Riddle.........and I thought it was a bullshit release as well. It was definitely political.

Pretty much the same way I feel. His release wasn't about weed. It was about him voicing his opinion about the UFC's PED problem. Nick Diaz has been popped for weed how many times? Nick and Nate both have spoken out about PED's in the UFC. Nate as recently as the UFC 196 press conference. Plenty of others have been popped for weed & talked shit about PED's in the UFC as well, with not so much as a fine. The difference is, the UFC isn't going to release Nick, Nate, or anyone else they consider a valuable commodity. Matt Riddle wasn't a valuable commodity.

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

Pretty much the same way I feel. His release wasn't about weed. It was about him voicing his opinion about the UFC's PED problem. Nick Diaz has been popped for weed how many times? Nick and Nate both have spoken out about PED's in the UFC. Nate as recently as the UFC 196 press conference. Plenty of others have been popped for weed & talked shit about PED's in the UFC as well, with not so much as a fine. The difference is, the UFC isn't going to release Nick, Nate, or anyone else they consider a valuable commodity. Matt Riddle wasn't a valuable commodity.

Have those fighters that you mention popped twice in a 3 fight span and bad mouthed the company the entire time?

It's like with most companies, you have to know what you bring to the table. If you're a top performer and make a difference to the bottom line then you typically are on a lot longer leash that the guys who do enough to get by but are constantly causing issues and having HR get involved.

Was he worth the headache that he caused? Probably not.


Also, is 2-2-2 the strangest stretch that anyone has had in the UFC? That's his last 6. Pretty neat actually

 

[Wild]

Have those fighters that you mention popped twice in a 3 fight span and bad mouthed the company the entire time?

It's like with most companies, you have to know what you bring to the table. If you're a top performer and make a difference to the bottom line then you typically are on a lot longer leash that the guys who do enough to get by but are constantly causing issues and having HR get involved.

Was he worth the headache that he caused? Probably not.


Also, is 2-2-2 the strangest stretch that anyone has had in the UFC? That's his last 6. Pretty neat actually

Nick's popped what, 3 times now? And he's never been shy about putting the UFC on blast from everything to fighter pay, to PED's. Absolutely agree that if you're a top performer, you get a longer leash. Pointed that out in my post. Riddle wasn't valuable enough to keep around. Like you said, wasn't worth the headache.

 

[ejlarson]

Can't complain when you knew the rules and chose to go against them

That is all that matters. HE signed a contract stating he wouldn't do it upon termination. He broke the contract, and was terminated. The end.

 

[megatherium]

Zuffa mistreated The Riddler.

Shame that. Got no use for a sport that's anti marijuana personally.

 

[Jesus X]

His face annoys me.

Riddle was good on criminal minds.

 

[Yossarian]

Riddle was good on criminal minds.

The weightcut must've been grueling...

 

[The EZ Life]

is it for marijuana though? or breaking the rules and not having enough of a name for the ufc to want to keep you

 

[Punch]

Yeah, it wasn't the weed it was the attitude, but the ganja makes a better excuse.