It looks like the ball's in Zuffa's court, to repair its relationship with "babysitter to the stars" Burt Watson.
Watson has worked for the UFC for 14 years but left the promotion midway through the UFC 184 event last month under mysterious circumstances. He finally explained the circumstances that left to him leaving the promotion on Monday.
After Mark Munoz, who was fighting on the card failed to make weight on his first attempt and had to stay behind to try again an hour later. Munoz eventually made weight but he was left at the LA Live Event Center without a ride to take him to his hotel room.
Watson claims that he had Munoz's transportation organised and was left perplexed as to why it didn't arrive, but Munoz had to hang around for an hour waiting to get picked up to be taken back to his hotel, only 10 minutes away. Apparently, one of the UFC officials was not impressed with the mix-up and called Watson shortly afterward.
I was approached and it was not in a proper manner, at least in my opinion. I was questioned about my work, about the way I handled things. That's the way I felt. Quite honestly, I didn't appreciate it. I didn't approve of it.
Watson, who Conor McGregor described as the man who "holds it (the UFC) all together" was extremely offended by the official's comments during the confrontation.
You respect the process. You respect the system. And sometimes before you make certain decisions, respect the creator of the system.
There's a reason why a mother would leave her cubs in the cave. She's gotta go find some food, baby. But she comes back. If you go in there and see those cubs by themselves, she's either out getting food, hunting for the kill or she's dead. But she didn't just leave them cubs just to be leaving them.
He admitted that it was not the way he intended to bow out of his job for the best part of a decade and a half, but he claimed it was necessary for him to leave at that moment.
What has happened was not the face of what I would have wanted as an end of my 14-year career.
But it's like, I'm a hoodrat with an education. In the streets, if you beat me once you're gonna always have in your head that you can beat me again. If you beat me down and I let you and I come back, you know what? You're gonna beat me until I leave. Because you got in your head, 'I can beat you.' And that's just the way life is.
Time will tell whether the UFC will fan the flames on the burning bridge or not, as Watson appears to be content to turn his back to the blaze.
