Monte Cox: Take what’s offered by the UFC

When Jon Jones refused a late hour fight with Chael Sonnen, and UFC 151 was cancelled, UFC President Dana was well beyond furious, and the Jones became, at least for a moment, the most hated man in MMA. Few people, perhaps none, understand the business side of MMA better than manager Monte Cox, who represents over 70 fighters, including several former UFC champions.

Cox understands that in fighting for the UFC, you have two options.

“Either you can be in the UFC family or you cannot,” said Cox. One way Cox has lasted so long and been so successful, he said, is by urging his fighters to steer clear of the “not” option.

Fighters do have the right to turn down certain opponents, but there are consequences.

“Once you’re in the UFC, the leverage you have is somewhat limited,” Cox said. “You sign an agreement, and the agreement says that once you turn down a fight they have the right to extend your contract another six months.”

“At some point you have to say, ‘This may not be ideal, but it could be a lot worse. Maybe you take this one because you know, hey, the next one could be really bad.”

You don’t hear much griping about the UFC’s approach to matchmaking, partly because few managers would want to trade places with UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, who has his hands full filling cards and finding late replacements for the company’s 300 or so fighters.

“Joe’s a fair guy,” Denaro Sports Marketing President Robert Roveta said. “But if it’s something where it’s the only matchup available, there’s not a lot of wiggle room. He’s got a schedule, and they’ve got a lineup they’ve got to fill. But he’s fair about it.”

Making that task easier on Silva, UFC President Dana White and the UFC is one way to stay “in the family,” according to Cox.

Once out, however, is there any way back in?

“I don’t think so,” Cox said. “I think (White) has a very long memory.”

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