It could’ve been his refusal to sign over his lifetime rights to then UFC videogame maker THQ, or Fitch coming out and saying that MMA fighters don’t make enough money for what kind of sacrifices they make for 2-3 fights a year if they’re lucky, but it’s clear that the UFC and Jon Fitch have been at odds for more than just a little while. It’s well-worn territory now, but after going 1-2-1 in his last four fights, Fitch’s unceremonious release has caused a surprising fervor in the MMA community. A guy who most thought no one cared about will probably be remembered longer for his release than anything he’s ever done in the cage, which is sad and ironic.
Fitch stopped on AXS TV’s Inside MMA to discuss for the first time his release, and he only confirms what many hypothesized.
“It was a surprise, but not really,” “I’ve always felt there was some kind of issue between the UFC and me; I never understood what it was. I felt like – I never really felt like they were happy with me, they never talked to me or explained anything to me about how they felt or where they stood, so it was a surprise in that sense, but it wasn’t a surprise in that I kind of felt it coming.”
Fitch has a four fight deal with the World Series of Fighting, so hopefully he can make some cheese and one more run if the UFC actually lets him back in the Octagon, but at this point, who really knows what’s going to happen.
