Jose Aldo is unhappy, Georges St-Pierre is unhappy, Anderson Silva is unhappy.
Three of the sport’s greatest legends have publicly hit out at their employer for what they believe is unjust treatment.
Aldo has threatened to retire, as well as throw his next fight if he doesn’t get his way, due to feeling disrespected by the UFC in recent years.
St-Pierre claims that he and his lawyer have managed to make ‘Rush’ a free agent after a series of failed negotiations with the promotion.
And Silva was forced to apologise to UFC president Dana White after initially accusing him of a lack of respect.
2016 will definitely go down as a landmark year in mixed martial arts history as a combination of the WME-IMG takeover of the UFC, the uptake in fighters testing free agency and the disclosed purse figures reaching record levels has resulted in fighters finally realising that they’re worth an awful lot more than they were initially led to believe.
One fighter who can have no complaints is Conor McGregor, who has become the best paid fighter in all of MMA and seemingly found himself in the position whereby he calls the shots and his bosses acquiesce.
When ‘The Notorious’ essentially demanded the rematch with Nate Diaz, he got it. And in spite of White’s initial insistence that McGregor would then return to featherweight to defend his title, the Irishman was allowed to fulfil his dream of holding a belt in two different weight divisions simultaneously when he was handed a title shot against UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.
And McGregor has responded to the dissenting voices loudly chirping up in the UFC’s ranks by offering some advice.
“Tell me one time that crying and moaning, tell me one time that’s good for progression. It’s not,” McGregor told Sports Illustrated. “Where would you be if I wasn’t here? Be grateful that you’re even in the conversation.
“Keep your head down, keep working, stay focused, stay positive, that’s the way to go forward. Not crying, moaning, complaining. I can’t engage in that. I wish them well, but I’m on something different here.”
Considering what McGregor has been able to accomplish in such a short period of time, perhaps the upset fighters would do well to follow his words of advice.
In the latest GAA Hour, we talk to Ken McGrath of Waterford and with Declan Brennan about a new club players’ association.
