Martijn De Jong hopes Golden Glory can still solve the conflict with ZUFFA
Posted on August 4, 2011, 05:26 AM by Anton GurevichTeam Golden Glory head coach Martijn De Jong was first to break the news on the release of all defeated fighters from his camp - Marloes Coenen, Valentijn Overeem and Jon Olav Einemo. In an exclusive interview with MMAJunkie.com, De Jong shared his thoughts about what could be a devastating blow for European MMA:
"This is a big blow for us. Of course, for us, it's really bad. I'm very disappointed. What can I say?
Of course they can cut them because they lost, but do you cut Alistair Overeem, who was very eager to fight in the (Strikeforce heavyweight) grand prix, and who got major injuries? Einemo just received a 'Fight of the Night' bonus in his last UFC appearance. Coenen ... two times (has) been the Strikeforce champion. And before Miesha beat her, I think they were even (on the scorecards) or [favoring] Marloes.
The only thing I can say is I feel disappointed for the fighters, and now we have to go back and see what we're going to do (and) where we're going to go. For me, I hope the management can still work something out with Zuffa. I think Alistair needs to fight the best fighters in the world, and I think right now there's only two people ranked above him: Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos. Alistair only wants to be the best. It's a pity." - For full interview, please visit MMAJunkie.com.
Team Golden Glory is widely considered as one of the best, if not the best, training camps on the planet. It's a fighting home for a vast majority of Europe's elite Kickboxers and Mixed Martial Artists, and also their ticket to big the big stages in United States and Canada. The only Team Golden Glory fighter currently remaining under ZUFFA contract is Sergei Kharitonov, who will face Josh Barnett in the semi-final of Strikeforce Heavyweight GP on September 10th at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Meanwhile, MMA reporter Loretta Hunt suggests that Golden Glory's "United Glory World Series" event is the main reason behind the cut. Untied Glory is expected to celebrate its 15th event in October, with Alistair Overeem and Sergei Kharitonov as participants, and according to Hunt, are eying an expansion to the US/Canda market.
Stay tuned to LowKick.com for more.
Comments
Then you sir are a casual MMA fan if you dont find that the UFC delivers at least some really interesting fights every event. I find every card to be filled with very interesting and potentially exciting fights.
There is many organizations of mma from Bellator to Tachi to Dream etc so UFC isnt a monopoly, tired of seeing kids saying that....
Overeem is not a big name amongst casual fans, but he could be fairly marketable......but that would be after the UFC molds him to be so, but they dont really need Overeem (Even though I would love to see him there)
Calling the brass at UFC foolish is asenine. Take some business classes, you need them.
The Evil Empire has strked again. If you don't say yes to them(UFC) then they'll blow your little planet(GGgym) to pieces(layoff).
jesus, way to have ur tongue 12 inches up zuffas arse hole Daddylongstrokes.
You are embarrassing yourself now. You implied UFC was a monopoly dont back track and say that you werent....
There are fighters that are paid like 6k for the fight, but the sponsorships they get for fighting in the UFC adds much more. Also if they are exciting Dana is famous for "taking care" of those fighters.
If you owned a business you would drive it into the ground because you arent focused on persuading people its the best product out there.
UFC gets fighters that have put together solid win streaks in other companies and either having them lose and show everyone "See he wasnt cut out to be in the UFC" or win and say "See, this kid is great and he belongs in the UFC"
Keeping fighters in your organization eliminates the possibility of losing in another org and decreasing the value of your fighter, and also ruining the rotation of fights the company wants to put on for shows.
Strikeforce allowed Overeem to do fight where he wanted and how many times did he defend that belt???
Exactly dude, go take some business classes, you need them more than I thought
Are you a fighter? I dont think so, so your best argument is that I am not a fighter so I dont know what im talking about. Yet you not being a fighter doesnt count since you are corey? Gtfo you dont make any sense XD
Hippies these days...
I still feel like there is information missing.
We're still blind to make any conclusions.
i agree, also i dont see the UFC complaining about Greg Jackson's MMA events in New Mexico
There's definitely more to the story. They absolutely did not get fired because they're coming off losses.
It's funny that every is talkin about "monopoly" this and "legality" that. UFC is not a monopoly - it is a business. If these fighters were fired without reason justified by the terms of their contracts, then you can expect lawsuits - because that's how business works. If Golden Glory is only "disappointed" and not seeking reparations from the situation, then I will assume they were justly released under the terms of their contracts.
When a company is as big as Zuffa they have a team of lawyers to write in enough clauses that they would have to rape a fighter's mother right in front of them for them to have any chance in court.
I'm no lawyer, but I wouldn't say UFC can terminate contracts at will. If they did, I'm sure Allistair's management would be seeking lost wages. It's just like baseball or any other modern sport -- there's thousands of possible clauses and stipulations that can be built into any single contract. I am very confident that these fighters were released well under the terms of their contracts.
I only justify the cut of Overeem's bro,he's a bum! me= sexypapi!!!!
The problem with Overeem is he wants to keep fighting for the small shows to keep himself busy, which is good but as a HW champion, Zuffa is only looking after their interest and brand.
What if Overeem loses to a no name guy outside of the Zuffa promotions (i.e. his next fight in October)? Suddenly, their HW champion loses its marketability, which means lost revenue for Zuffa especially if they intend to move his over to UFC in the near future.
What they did was a strategic business move to protect Zuffa's interests.
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I hope they can settle the beef, seriously. If the UFC is worried about United Glory events being competition they are wrong.