Why Brave champ Lucas Martins not interested in UFC return

Lucas Martins fought seven times in the UFC, winning two performance bonuses, in two weight divisions, and left on a win. He has gone 4-0 since, and is now the Brave Combat Federation lightweight champion, and defends his title tonight vs. Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady at Brave 18 in Bahrain.

He was a free agent after going 2-0 in Brave, but signed a new five-fight contract with the organization. And how he can wear branded apparel and use a sponsor banner, which is vital to securing sponsorship. In an interview with Guilherme Cruz for MMA Fighting, he explained why Brave is better.

Today, with the UFC and Reebok, I have no plans to return to the UFC, explained Martins. I have plenty of sponsors, thank God, and I get paid well every month and fight three times a year, so I have no reasons to be there. … I’m one of the highest paid fighters in Brazil today in terms of sponsorship. I make in sponsorship what I was making in three UFC fights. It’s not interesting for me to fight in the UFC today and lose sponsors. I’d rather fight in Brave, which also airs on TV in Brazil, and work with my sponsors.

I get paid more than I did in the UFC, so I’m more than happy. I don’t have this dream of returning to the UFC. I’m happy where I am. But like I said, if the offer is too good, why now?

I told Brave that I want to make history, I want to become a two-division champion. Depending on the offer they have for me, I will go down after this one and fight at featherweight.