SCRAPP! FIGHT MAGAZINE
August - 2016
27
ers can turn to other smaller promotion com-
panies, there aren’t too many lucrative options.
This will ultimately result in the UFC abusing its
power to achieve its own agenda. While right
now the UFC is handing out suspensions under
the guise of cleaning up the sport, it could one
day use that same power to pressure fighters.
Certain bouts will no doubt be more favourable
for the company and eventually it will do ev-
erything it can to make the most money. If cer-
tain fighters are unwilling to fight in a certain
bout – for whatever reason – the UFC can then
pressure those fighters into accepting whatever
they have in store.
This is the problem at its most extreme. At its
mildest is what happened to Hunt. Hunt, a
clean fighter, was pit against Brock Lesnar. At
the weigh in the difference was clear as Lesnar
was towering over Hunt. How much of that can
be attributed to PEDs is uncertain; but that’s the
point exactly. True competitors will want to be
able to say that the results, no matter what they
are, are 100% their accomplishments. Not that
they shot-up to get an edge and not have to
work as hard. On top of that is the risk factor.
As Hunt stated in interviews he risked his own
personal health by stepping into that octagon.
Lesnar pummelled him for most of the match
and Lesnar ended up getting more money at
the end of the day. Now Lesnar’s win is taint-
ed and Hunt doesn’t even receive a phone call
from the UFC, let alone any sort of monetary
compensation. You can always bet on UFC to
be stingy with its coin.
