Released UFC vets are at a premium when they enter free agency, but they are characteristically not young, or at their peak. Dana White’s Contender Series finds prospects worldwide, and several are given a UFC contract each episode. At the DWCS Season 4: Week 4 post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White argued that other major promotions should pick up the fighters who shine but for whatever reason don’t get a contract.
Four of the five winners on Saturday got a contract; still undefeated Canadian lightweight Anthony Romero did not.
The kid is 8-0, he’s from Canada and was in a tough fight against a really tough guy [in Mike Breeden], said White. When I looked at certain things, he couldn’t finish with that leg kick, was going for takedowns, and he really had a tough time when the kid switched to southpaw. I actually told Breeden after the fight, ‘You should fight southpaw. You looked good southpaw.’
He’s 23 years old, he’s 8-0. He’s got nothing but time. That kid’s gonna get better and he’s gonna be great some day. He’s not anywhere near his prime yet. He’s still a young kid.
The other thing this does, it gives some of these promotions an opportunity to pick this kid up. Pick him up, make him your star. Maybe he becomes a world champion in one of these other organizations and can get some experience.
If you’re another promoter, and you’re not watching this show, and not picking up what I don’t, you’re an idiot.
At 7:46 of the video, White was asked, without naming names ***cough Bellator MMA*** if he feels frustrated that other promotions are not building up new stars to nearly the extent the UFC is.
I just think they don’t know how to, replied White. Out of the 20-year history of being in this sport, the answer is they don’t know how to. That’s the only thing I can come up with is that they’re not good enough to do it so everybody waits until someone gets let go here then they pick them up.
But that would be the smart thing to do. Grab that 8-0 Canadian kid and build him. That’s the other thing they’re not very good at, either.
h/t Mike Heck for MMA Fighting
