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24 Sep 2009, 11:09 AM
Glass Joe

What the hell is this nonsense? Rampage calling it quits? http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/ram...e-reacts-19886
24 Sep 2009, 11:15 AM
Dyne

It's all WWE style drama. Oooooo. Dana's mad at so-and-so. Then months later. Dana's happy with so-and-so. Lets make a dream fight. *yawn*
24 Sep 2009, 12:23 PM
Kidnemo

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaCrappa

Hay Kbu Chan, have you ever done much of this stuff?

Stand up and fight you fags!
24 Sep 2009, 04:26 PM
Drewbacca

That's pretty low to duck out of a fight date you have agreed to months in prep, with a TV promoting it over months and months. He may not have wanted to do it, but that's a lot of confidence and build-up around you to have you duck out. If it were a family emergency, injury, etc. i think the scenario would have been different. But to go and film a movie and help someone ELSE with their business instead? Yeah, that's a pretty dirty move.
24 Sep 2009, 08:35 PM
Gooch

Rampage went insane after too many energy drinks. He claims to hear voices. I'd say I'm not surprised by this development, but wish him the best and hope he still has some high level fights left in him should he return. I find him to be an entertaining guy who is troubled enough to remind you of his fragile humanity. Yes, that also makes me sound insane, but I never denied that and actually embrace it.
24 Sep 2009, 10:49 PM
Kidnemo

"energy drinks"
25 Sep 2009, 10:39 PM
The_Meach

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drewbacca

That's pretty low to duck out of a fight date you have agreed to months in prep, with a TV promoting it over months and months. He may not have wanted to do it, but that's a lot of confidence and build-up around you to have you duck out. If it were a family emergency, injury, etc. i think the scenario would have been different. But to go and film a movie and help someone ELSE with their business instead? Yeah, that's a pretty dirty move.

I used to think this.

However.

MMA fighters, even well-compensated ones like Rampage, are one sparring session away from the door. Take the Serra-Hughes fight. Going into TUF, these guys hated each other and were going to do a big PPV fight for the belt afterward. If their contracts were tied to points on the PPV, they both could have been looking at a high six figure payday (maybe 7 figures for Hughes). Serra gets hurt, gets steamrolled by GSP six months later, and it's another year before the two final throw down. No chance Serra sniffed a $500k pay day at UFC 98.

The UFC has no pension plan. Contracts are not guaranteed (I don't think even Randy's 6-fight deal is). A lot of these guys are doing a sport where they can lose the ability to make a living (see: Big Nog and 15% vision in one eye). Many have the skills to fall back on something else (a lot of the wrestlers have college degrees), and some are wealthy enough to live a life of luxury (Brock).

But the vast majority of MMA guys, even UFC guys, are not making money that sets them up for life.

Generic UFC dude gets $8k to show, another $8k if he wins ($16k). Let's say he gets half that in sponsorships (I'm completely making this up). So $24k total for each win. He fights 4x/yr (lol!) and goes 2-2. $48k for the 2 W's and $32k for each L. Gross = $80k. This isn't counting any sparring partners/trainers.

If Generic UFC dude gets hurt and isn't a big enough name to trade on with gyms/etc., what's he going to go do? Maybe he went to OK State or Minnesota and has a degree in Accounting (isn't Chuck a CPA?). If he's lucky.

And I'm not even talking about all the guys in smaller orgs that get less $$$.

Take the guaranteed $$$ Rampage and maybe make a career where you get residuals.
26 Sep 2009, 11:44 AM
Drewbacca

Business is business. If you agree to those terms going in to it then that was what you knew you were getting in to.

A smart fighter should start a league that compensates fighters properly and takes care of them. If fighters want change they have to work for it. Nobody is going to hand them a silver platter in the business world. They have to take it themselves. It takes someone to get the ball rolling first.

And, hey, maybe Rampage made the smart decision to do a movie instead of fighting for where he is at in his life. I don't blame him and maybe I would have done the very same thing. But from a completely objective standpoint it was still pretty underhanded to bail out of something with so much depending on you that you had agreed to do. That's basic understanding and commitment in any circumstance.
26 Sep 2009, 12:30 PM
Dyne

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gooch

Rampage went insane after too many energy drinks. He claims to hear voices. I'd say I'm not surprised by this development, but wish him the best and hope he still has some high level fights left in him should he return. I find him to be an entertaining guy who is troubled enough to remind you of his fragile humanity. Yes, that also makes me sound insane, but I never denied that and actually embrace it.

Rampage is the main reason I ever tune in for a bit this season. His rambling always brings a smile to my face. I was also surprised to see how humble Kimbo seems so far.
26 Sep 2009, 08:45 PM
The_Meach

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drewbacca

And, hey, maybe Rampage made the smart decision to do a movie instead of fighting for where he is at in his life. I don't blame him and maybe I would have done the very same thing. But from a completely objective standpoint it was still pretty underhanded to bail out of something with so much depending on you that you had agreed to do. That's basic understanding and commitment in any circumstance.

Business being business, you have an "understanding"? Get that shit signed.

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