Lorenz Larkin a free agent, waiting on offers

The UFC typically offers a fighter a contract with one fight left. During a recent appearance on MMAjunkie Radio the #7 UFC welterweight contender Lorenz Larkin said the offer was “ridiculous.” Looking at his last three fights, the ridiculous was presumably a modest bump of a few thousand from where he was.

Win over Neil Magny • UFC 202 • $39,000 + $39,000 = $78,000
Win over Jorge Masvidal • UFC Fight Night 88 • ($36,000 + $36,000 = $72,000)
Loss to Albert Tumenov • UFC 195 • ($36,000 to show)

So Larkin gambled. He let his final fight play out, a loss would mean the UFC could come back with a smaller offer. It was a short-notice replacement for Dong Hyun Kim, vs. Neil Magny

I was thinking, you know what? They’re betting against you right now, said Larkin, as transcribed by Steven Marrocco for MMAjunkie. Take this fight, you’ll lose, and we’ll come back with a lower offer, and we’ve pretty much got you by the balls.

But he won. Now Larkin says his management team is seeking interest from the UFC, Bellator MMA, and Rizin FF. There have yet to be a formal offer from the UFC however.

I was hoping after I was able to talk to promotions, it would wrap up in a week, but I’m really thinking two weeks, he said. Two weeks from now, I’m thinking I should have something.”

I want to work. I don’t want to just fight. I would like to be active in the company that I’m employed by, and that was one of my big things coming into this free agency that was a problem for me. I want to do things that put me closer to fans. That’s another thing that would have to be on that contract.

It’s not that big of a deal. It’s just the time frame of everything. I hope I can get it wrapped up [by the holidays], as long as I know these certain people are going to throw offers.