Former TUF fighter chooses jail over fine to save money
Bubba McDaniel has had a hard time landing fights, and is working as a landscaper, but when he got a ticket, and the option was a night in jail or a $159 fine, he chose jail
TUF and UFC vet Bubba McDaniel has been fighting for Bellator and regional promotions recently, but had a hard time landing fights. He is working as a landscaper, but when he got a ticket, and the option was a night in jail or a $159 fine, he choose lock up.
April 25
?#FightCanceled? I’m On My Way Home… money out of our pockets for no reason… Thanks to Bastos Bjj and Brad Barnes for everything. I Hope to be back sooner than later… I just don’t know what to say. I’m sorry, and hopefully we get something soon and close for everyone to go to
June 11 at 2:04pm*
Tuesday morning, June 9th, at 9am Bubba McDaniel, TUF and UFC vet, will check himself into his local county jail to “sit-out” seatbelt ticket because he cannot afford the citation and at least will be getting 3 square meals while there.
Bubba has been trying to fight on the regional circuit and still work out a few more fights with Bellator. The main problem is that on the regional circuit, he cannot get a fight.
“One promotion said ‘yeah we can match you up, $700/$700’ …. After taxes and expenses I get to fight for basically free and they get to put ‘UFC vet’ on their posters. One other one in Texas is trying to find me a matchup, still for not great money, but I’m still waiting now almost a month for them to make it official, because people want more money than ME to fight me”
“So I’m doing lawn service and general handyman type stuff and busy work to provide and hoping people can find a good spot for me on a card, hopefully the one July 18th in Texas isn’t just jerkin my chain.”
“I will get paid more in one day of sitting in jail than I will being out in the hot sun slaving away like I was trying to do when they pulled me over between yards anyway. I break my back for ME. I refuse to do it for someone fuckin with me about wearing my seat belt on a 1/2 mile ride”
Bubba is stuck like a lot of guys. UFC tag in front of his name, no one wants to fight him because he has skills, those that would, the promotions don’t want to pay, and then settling for fights often against unknowns who can be dangerous to him if he hopes to make a climb back to the top.
McDaniel was able to get out Thursday morning, and had as good an experience as one can have from county jail.
“They didn’t post my booking info online. Idk why exactly, but I do know that no one at the jail wanted to take me in. They offered more than a few times for me to make payments or to do community service instead. They even offered food bank jobs. I told them no, that is still besides the point. I won’t work for a seat belt ticket. They were all shocked that I wasn’t somewhat rich too…”
“A couple wondered how long I was gonna be there. Wondering if I was gonna be beating people up. everyone took care of me actually, coffee, extra cakes, just things to make me comfy til I left.”
As to his plans for the future;
“I’m just bummed now to be out and know that the fight that I was promised for July 18th for being willing to step up on a weeks notice for a May card is prolly not gonna happen. Another promoter not coming through. So I’m back at square one. Wasting time for me is the worse possible thing because every day I’m getting older and the next guys are getting better while younger.”
BE reached out for comment, and McDaniel said he got released early.
“They think it’s just crazy to volunteer to go to jail,” he said. “I got 100 credit for 24 hours… then they said we are overcrowded and kicked me out early and just gave me 200 for 24 hours… no biggie. In and out BUT. Jail food stopped me up real bad. Lol”
*Originally posted on Reddit.