Recently, Shane Burgos stated that it surprises him to watch MMA fighters continue to break their backs in the UFC rather than exploring the opportunities that free agency provides.
The 32-year-old athlete competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for close to six years and had eleven bouts inside the octagon. After seeing out the remaining time on his contract, he made the decision not to renew his agreement with the promotion and instead investigate his options in free agency. Later on, Burgos competed for the PFL in their lightweight division after signing an incredibly lucrative contract with the league.
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Shane Burgos discussed the fact that fighters continue to compete for the UFC despite the relatively low compensation and encouraged them to explore other career options. He remarked that
“It doesn’t make any sense for fighters to not explore out their options regarding free agency, especially as you go deeper… It blows my mind that there are people who have been competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship for such a long time who have never even attempted testing it out.
Shane Burgos went on to say that:
“Are you in a committed relationship with the UFC?… They are always ready to take your place at the drop of a hat. mostly due to the fact that they are not married to you to the same extent that you are married to them. There is no such thing as falling in love with just three letters. You have to act in a moral manner because this isn’t going to be a very lengthy profession for you.
PFL vs. UFC: Fans react to Shane Burgos urging UFC fighters to explore free agency options
In the mixed martial arts (MMA) world, topics such as low fighter compensation and a lack of access to healthcare in the UFC have been contentious for some time. Shane Burgos undoubtedly added fuel to the fire with his statements pushing UFC athletes to go it alone, especially in light of the verbal exchange that took place between Francis Ngannou and Dana White about these problems.
Following the publication of an interview report by @MMAFighting on Twitter, subscribers turned to the platform’s comments area to share their thoughts and feelings regarding the topic.
MMAFighting.com
MMAFighting.com @MMAFighting
According to Shane Burgos, the fact that more UFC fighters don’t test their free agency options is “mind blowing”: “It’s impossible to fall in love with just three letters.” (@DamonMartin) Check out this fight at mmafighting.com/2023/6/23/2376…
Look at the picture on Twitter.
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One fan disagreed with Burgos and argued that the UFC had a distinct competitive edge due to its brand, saying:
After hearing that, I decided not to watch any more of Shane Burgos’s fights, lol. It’s true that you could make more money working for a promotion other than the UFC, but your brand would take a significant hit if you did so. That difference must be covered by the paycheck.”
