Speaking one’s mind has led to revolution, debate, embracing an opposing view and sometimes a fist fight in the parking lot because for some reason, people will still try and justify that Ryu is better than Ken. Really? Please pray and tell me how that loner is better than Ken Masters. Ken has a FLAMING UPPERCUT! Hadoken’s and hurricane kicks aside, former UFC lightweight Jacob Volkmann has never been one to keep his thoughts inside. In a recent interview with Above and Beyond MMA, Volkmann disclosed the truth behind UFC insurance benefits, fighter’s pay and other instances within Zuffa.
Speaking with Fight Hub TV correspondent Will Gray, Volkmann wants the fans to know some truths about the MMA giant and wants to be taken as a fighters advocate for better conditions and not as a crazy person spewing his mouth that some outlets have cast him recently.
FHTV: What are your feelings right now with the UFC?
Volkmann: I feel it’s for the top percent of their roster. You know, this is what we do for a living, this is our job; we are all professional athletes, some of us training anywhere from one to three times a day getting ready for these fights along with providing for our families. All I am trying to do is make people aware and get fighters better pay, better insurance, retirement possibilities. I am not crazy or an angry person that some have tried to portray me as, I am just someone bringing these situations to light and educate people and hopefully get a change for us as professionals.
I look at the UFC and compare them to the NFL a lot. You know, we could have a fighter’s union to get those things for us but I feel that unions always start out good and then get so greedy, they become bad. That is what happened with the NFL and almost every other union out there.
FHTV: Can you tell us the truth about the insurance that Zuffa provides?
Volkmann: Yeah, so they have insurance for everyone, which they pay 100% and it sucks. The deductible alone is $1500 per injury, the injuries you incur that would be covered by this is so rare, that very few fighters ever use this. Your common injuries you would need coverage for would be like some stitching and staph treatment, well – those are not in the bounds of coverage so it is out of my pocket. Plus, none of your family is covered by the plans so I had to go get another plan to take care of my family, a lot of fighters have their own programs they use instead of the company provided care.
FHTV: Do you feel that your termination with Zuffa was justifiable?
Volkmann: (laughs) I don’t think it was very justifiable. I mean 6-2 at lightweight in the UFC is pretty good. I think what it is, you get a group of guys on the internet and other places who wanna see two guys go into a slugfest and just see blood spill. If you are not willing to do that and want to be a technical fighter, than you get punished or cut for it.
FHTV: We recently spoke with Jon Fitch who was cut unexpectedly as well, what is your reaction to something like that?
Volkmann: I like Jon Fitch. I am a fan and like to watch his fights. I like his style and he is a technical fighter and to cut him over some guy who just throws blind, just does not make much sense to me.
FHTV: If you put together a string of wins and say UFC comes back with an offer, would you accept?
Volkmann: HA! I don’t think they will be pretty happy with me after the things I have said and doubt they would come back to me. But if they did, I don’t think I would, I mean what’s the point? Sign with them in fear of being fired again? I mean, I am just hoping and waiting to see if WSOF has the money to pay us (Professional fighters) how we should be paid and to take care of us. Not let the greed blind them and be ruined that way.
I just want to see the fighter’s get taken care of better. Not just the fighter’s but the company as a whole. My last fight (UFC 156), when I was out there, half of the employee’s I knew were gone. I asked someone what happened and they said that Zuffa had made a company change and told all of their employee’s that if they did not move to Las Vegas, then they were terminated and half the employee’s lost their job who did not make the move.
FHTV: Is there anything else you would like to address?
Volkmann: Just that I want everyone to know that I am not doing this on a tirade or anything but I just feel that people need to be educated to things and that the fighter’s need to be paid better and taken care of better.
