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Post by clubman on Dec 3, 2016 11:31:49 GMT -5
Longtime UFC veterans and former champions Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes have reportedly been let go by the company. The two were part of a number of employees released by the UFC earlier this week as the new owners continue to make changes.
Both Hughes and Liddell are good friends with Dana White and joined the company on the business side when their fight careers concluded.
Hughes was reached for comment by MMAfighting.com and wasn’t upset with the companies decision whatsoever.
“The UFC has been great to me,” Hughes said. “Times change, and I understand the decision that was made. I will move on. My family and I are fine. I do love adventure, and who knows what’s next for me.”
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Post by clubman on Dec 3, 2016 11:33:44 GMT -5
Will we see Lidell vs Tito Ortiz in Bellator? A niggas gotta eat
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Post by Tapout on Dec 3, 2016 11:58:37 GMT -5
Makes complete sense. They were probably paid a rather healthy salary. This isn't a family owned business anymore. People need to wake up and realize that. All these decisions that are being made, is what corporations due.
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Post by Premier on Dec 3, 2016 13:25:54 GMT -5
Hughes and Chuck are two of my favorites. But I agree with Tapout. They probably had the equivalent of those mafia no-show jobs, just for gratitude for them being legends. Probably did a couple of appearances here and there.
New owners probably found little value in that.
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Post by adamg01 on Dec 3, 2016 17:48:59 GMT -5
Hughes and Chuck are two of my favorites. But I agree with Tapout. They probably had the equivalent of those mafia no-show jobs, just for gratitude for them being legends. Probably did a couple of appearances here and there. New owners probably found little value in that. This, I think even Dana pretty much admitted it was for their loyalty in getting the UFC going. A gratitude check, i don't blame the new owners. Didn't Big Nog take a similar job?
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Post by Premier on Dec 3, 2016 18:19:07 GMT -5
Yeah Nog has a similar position but in Brazil. Maybe they'll keep Nog in that role. I see a bit more value in Nog promoting the brand in a foreing market like Brazil. They got plenty of fighters here in the US that promote the brand as part of their regular contract or just by the fact that they are current fighters.
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Post by clubman on Dec 3, 2016 19:21:30 GMT -5
personally I think he was paying them not to fight. chuck seems like the kind of guy living paycheck to paycheck. within a year I expect to see him pop up at nye 18 rizin card vs tito, wanderlei or rampage
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Post by Premier on Dec 3, 2016 20:49:31 GMT -5
You might be on to something. Hard to believe that Chuck's last fight was over 6 years ago. By this time he should had attempted at least one comeback fight. That UFC check was probably the only thing keeping him from fighting.
Watch out for Chuck in Rizing
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 1:32:18 GMT -5
Rizin still has time to get Chuck in that GP...
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 11:50:14 GMT -5
I for one hope Chuck stays retired. He lost his last three fights by KO. His chin is gone, and more blunt force trauma to the head would make him the IceTard instead of the Ice Man.
I don't think he's paycheck to paycheck either guys. He earned 13M fighting.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 13:09:31 GMT -5
I have seen the guy do interviews. He's pretty much already the IceTard.
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Post by TheStorm on Dec 5, 2016 0:37:49 GMT -5
Arlovski was able to come back for a few more solid fights after some brutal KO's, so fuck it, why not Iceman? 😝
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Post by peAk on Dec 6, 2016 23:25:46 GMT -5
Here is what Dana said about it
"When another company takes over another company, it’s absolutely normal for them to come in and especially at the executive level, to let guys go. They have guys that they are going to bring in that will fill those positions. Some of those people that have been let go, they have their own people ready for those positions. It’s their company, they roll in and they put in their people, it’s absolutely normal. A lot of our executives were let go, a company as big as WME-IMG, they have a ton of people for these positions. The Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes thing, during the ZUFFA era, those were my guys. I wanted them to retire, I respected these guys. They helped build this company when I was growing it and I told them both, I said, ‘Unless I drop dead or it comes to a position sometime where I’m not controlling how much money is being spent and all that stuff, you guys will get a paycheck until that day.’ And that day came. The thing with Matt and Chuck, it was a loyalty thing for me. It was my gift to them or being the guys that they were when me, Frank and Lorenzo, when it was our money."
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