UFC has found itself in hot waters after the first Pay Per View (PPV) of the year. The UFC 270 fight card featured two championship fights and nine other fights in the main card, prelims and early prelims combined. However, the entire fight card got paid an approximate amount of $1.8 million. It has garnered a lot of criticism from all around the world. A former champion of the UFC, Khabib Nurmagomedov has finally weighed in on the issue.
After retiring from the sport of MMA, Khabib Nurmagomedov became a promoter after buying an MMA promotion. His promotion is called Eagle FC and it is gaining more and more momentum day by day. They are going to hold their first event for the American audiences in a day’s time in Miami, Florida. Ahead of it, ‘The Eagle’ himself has issued a warning to his former employers.
Khabib Nurmagomedov says the UFC better be careful with their fighters because @EagleFightClub will sign them. “If they don’t treat good their fighters. Eagle FC is here” @TeamKhabib #eaglefc44 pic.twitter.com/YdlkC2AaaF
— BroBible (@BroBible) January 27, 2022
During the promotion for an upcoming Eagle FC event, the 33-year old said, “I think for big organisations like UFC, Bellator, they have to be careful with their fighters. Because Eagle FC is here. And of course, we (are) trying to sign good athletes, great athletes with good names. And sometimes we (are) working with (the) young generation too. We have two goals. And I just wanna say be careful, if they don’t (treat fighters well), Eagle FC is here.”
Will top UFC fighters leave in favour of Khabib Nurmagomedov owned promotion?
Eagle FC has already signed a number of former top UFC fighters. Two such fighters, Rashad Evans and Ray Borg will compete on January 28 at Eagle FC 44. The promotion did not stop there as they have already lined up another fight between two former UFC fighters. Kevin Lee and Diego Sanchez will fight each other on March 11.
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Although top stars such as Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington and Jon Jones still have the opportunity to make more money in the UFC, mid-level fighters will certainly benefit from some of the attributes of Eagle FC. The welterweight division has a leeway of 5 extra pounds in comparison to UFC where it is 170 pounds. EFC also has a ‘Super Lightweight’ division (165 pounds) which has the benefit of extra 10 pounds in comparison to the regular lightweight division (155 pounds.)
Having an extra division will give fighters the option to fight close to their natural weight. For example, someone such as Rafael Dos Anjos will benefit exponentially from a Super Lightweight division as he has the perfect body type for it. Top biggest box-office draws in the sport may not be heading towards EFC very soon, it will certainly be an option for the rest of the MMA community.
