MMA Junkie reports on the inauspicious retirement of Matthew Riddle. Fed up with the state of MMA, Riddle voiced his displeasure with Bellator and the UFC.
According to Riddle he has made an average of $50,000 a year with the UFC. He was released from the UFC due to failing multiple drug tests. An injury forced him out of his first Bellator fight and he received word from Bellator that he would not receive a fight the rest of this year. Fed up with MMA promotions and with a family to support, Riddle decided to retire and find a job.
Via MMA Junkie:
“When Bellator bought out my contract they said, ‘We’re family, we take care of our own,'” Riddle said. “But then I crack a rib two weeks out from a fight and ask for an extension, like Joe Warren got, and I get told no. Then I ask if I can fight before the end of the year and I get told no on that. I’ve got three kids, man. When they bought me out of the Legacy contract, that was back in May. They kept me on the bench from May until September. I got hurt for September and now they say they can’t get me a fight until January or February. The bottom line is, I’ve got a wife and three kids. I’ve got bills I have to pay.”
With the UFC being talked about, it was inevitable that Dana White would respond. White stated that Riddle made $162,000 a year from 2011 to 2013. He indicated that the reason he is not in the UFC anymore was because of failing drug tests. Riddle tested positive for marijuana in two of his last three fights.
Riddle’s last 5 UFC Fights
UFC on Fuel TV: Barao v. McDonald – no official salary released February 2013
UFC 154 – no official salary released November 17, 2012
UFC 149 – no official salary released $65,000 Sub of the Night bonus July 2012
UFC 143 $30,000 ($15K/$15k) – February 2012
UFC Fight Night – no official salary released $55,000 FOTN bonus – September 2011
Riddle went 4-1 in his last 5 UFC fights. However, UFC 149 and UFC on Fuel TV: Barao v. McDonald were wins that were overturned due to failed drug tests.
Payout Perspective:
Riddle’s case is not out of the ordinary. Many fighters have found the issues of waiting for a fight frustrating and with the latest news from Bellator seems to have been the last straw. Of course in the article, Riddle did leave the possibility of returning to fighting in the future open. Still, from Riddle’s perspective, the physical toll it has taken on him and the uncertainty of income may have been the determinative factors for a career change. Riddle definitely contributed to his demise with failing drug tests which caused the UFC to cut him. As White pointed out, most employers will drug test in the workplace.
The question as to how much Riddle made is an interesting one. Riddles states he made $50,000 a year while White contends he made $162,000 a year while in the UFC. Who you believe may be based on White’s comment that he pays fighters for three fights a year even if they do not have those fights (1:10 mark). Essentially, if White cannot book the fighter three fights in a year, he will still compensate the fighter. This would be contrary to Riddle’s claim his salary was dependent on fighting. Only one official salary report is available from Riddle’s past five fights in the UFC which were from 2011 to 2013. At UFC 143 in February 2012 he made $15K to show and additional $15K for the win. Riddle did receive a $65,000 Submission of the Night bonus ar UFC 149 (July 2012) and a $55,000 Fight of the Night bonus bonus for UFC Fight Night: Shields v. Ellenberger (September 2011). Riddle was fined at UFC 149 for a failed drug test so its not clear whether he kept the $65K bonus.
But, based on White’s comments, it indicates that Riddle would have made an average of $54,000 per fight. $162,000 divided by 3 fights. This would mean that Riddle received huge unreported locker room bonuses or was paid by other means (i.e. appearances). If Riddle had a base of around $15K in 2012, that would mean he received big bonuses. Then again, if he failed post-fight drug tests, its unlikely he would receive any extra money.
Its also interesting around the 3:00 mark White blasts MMA Junkie for not reporting “both sides of the story.” This appears to be based on the fact that the web site did not state that Riddle was quoted in a podcast interview (around 30:00 mark) where he stated that marijuana probably keeps him from abusing his kids “because they’re always screaming and crying.” Junkie does state that Riddle tested positive in two of his last three UFC fights.
I wanna feel bad for riddle but if he coulda put down the mj temporarily he would most likely be in a better position. i do believe his side of the story is more truthful than whites.
I believe that the catch (and I get that impression from published UFC contract of Eddie Alvarez) behind the “we pay for 3 fight per year – fighter fighting or not” is quite simple. Yeah, the UFC is supposed to get fighter stipulated number of fights per year, but a) only if fighter wants them b) only if fighter is not injured.
So A) If Nick Diaz sits whole year on sidelines, because he just isn’t interested in fighting right now, I don’t think that the UFC will pay him 3 times his show money this year 🙂
B) when the fighter is injured, his contract is “paused” and prolonged by duration of the injury (and there are also no money given meanwhile, I believe)
So, the situation: we didn’t get him enough fights and we paid him instead is IMO basically nonexistant in the UFC – with the number of events, UFC can always find you a place somewhere on the card.
Bellator – that is different game. They are on different schedule. 3 months/12 events of season where there is a lot of preplaning, everything focuses on tournaments and big superfights (non tourney fights which can headline events – title fights and similar big ones) and if someone like Riddle is injured, I really believe that Bellator simply cannot get him a match. Not enought space this season – and after season – nothign. Also, if Riddle is on tournament deal, then he is somewhat expensive for use in non tournament preliminaries (which can be filled cheaper with local talent or guys with non tournament deals).
Anyone who believes Riddle is a fool. The guy rambled off 100 excuses during his cry baby melt down. Typical irresponsible pot head imo. Also there is no doubt he will be back. Of course he is bound to Bellator if he ever comes back be it 3 months or 10 years. Just like Couture he only froze his contract by retiring. This is nothing more than a temper tantrum to get his way and maybe hope he gets released.
Did anyone listen to his beef with Bellator? The guy claimed he was hurt and turned down a fight in Sept or Oct. BFC tried to book him in Jan and Riddle flips out. So this injury that would let him fight in Sept is magically healed within a month after the fight he turned down? 2 months? At most Bellator offered him a fight 2-3 months after the date he would be healed if the injury was real to begin with. That’s not a lot of time when most guys are sitting out 6-8 months. Truth is he pulled out because he wouldn’t pass the drug test again and needed a month to get it out of his system. His excuse of why he cant fight one month but can the next doesn’t add up.
I also think the 1 year thing Dana White mention was more of an example. I don’t think many fighters at all are on 1 year contracts. The contract of Couture years ago was many years long. I think there are a few who negotiated 3 fights in a year contract but it isn’t the norm I don’t think.
I also believe Dana’s quote about his salary before I do a disgruntled pot head. We have a few examples of Dana releasing someone’s pay like this and he has never lied. A fighters pay is something he would get caught lying in 2 seconds flat. It would be nothing for Riddle to produce records of his income. This is why Couture got busted lying and why Dana released what Fitch was paid and Fitch never disputed it. The only question is. Did that include the amount Riddle lost due to his own stupidity or is that after those lost win bonus, fines, and OTN awards?
I couldn’t care less about Riddle and think he is a fool, but White’s response only makes the UFC look worse and I doubt anybody takes White’s rants seriously anymore, it’s as if people have learned to tune him out as of lately.
A wife and 3 kids and you are smoking pot? what a loser!!!
Its ok to smoke and have a family… until something like this happens.
Riddle will be back; this was just a setback – nothing more – for him. Injuries happen, nothing uncommon there. As for Dana’s comments, seems like he always inflates what the UFC allegedly pays its fighters, while at the same time talking badly about basically any other MMA organization that he sees to be a potential threat. Seems childish to me, since the UFC is clearly the strongest MMA organization in the world. So, White’s continuous commentary about other MMA organizations, which are generally pretty bad and disrespectful comments, makes him look like nothing more than a bully who enjoys throwing his weight around. White is obviously a skilled business man, but this aspect of his personality is a real turn off to a lot of fans.