White to talent: Take the fights we offer or go elsewhere
Dana White: “When I call you and offer you a fight, you should probably take it. You should probably take it.”
It has long been understood among UFC fighters and management that there are negative consequences for not taking a fight that has been offered. With the firing of potential superstar Yair Rodrigues for turning down two fights, that has now become explicit, as UFC president Dana White made clear during the UFC Fight Night 130 post-fight press conference in Liverpool, England.
We offered him fights, he turned down the fights,” said White, as transcribed by Nathan Zur for Sherdog. “There was a lot more back and forth that went on with that. If you don’t want to fight, this isn’t the place to be. There’s plenty of places out there that will take Yair Rodriguez, and would love to have him, and will sign him, and I’m sure he’ll have a great career. This isn’t the place for you.
White was asked if Rodriguez might be welcomed back at some point in the future.
“I don’t know, we’ll see,” said White, who then made the point even clearer. When I call you and offer you a fight, you should probably take it. You should probably take it. I make 42 fights a year. And if you don’t want to fight, and if you want to be picky and choosy, and you don’t want to do this and you don’t want to do that, then you probably need to go somewhere else. And I’ll help you get there.
(32:05 mark)