Bantamweight fighter Aljamain Sterling is the next former UFC fighter to test free agency. Per a tweet from the fighter, it appears that the UFC will not seek to re-sign the
Sterling defeated Johnny Eduardo at UFC Fight Night 80 improving his record to 4-0. It was the last fight on his contract. He made $28K total with a $14K base and $14K win bonus plus his modest Reebok payout. Dana White indicated that he would be allowed to test free agency and would not be subject to matching by the company.
When the @UFC calls your manager and tells them you’re good to start shopping around as a… https://t.co/9XLaCNxVuM
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) December 18, 2015
Payout Perspective:
Unlike the departures of other fighters, Sterling is a talented young fighter on the rise. His market is undefined so the place he signs with next will be the ones to set a comparative pay scale. With Benson Henderson willing to explore what’s out there, the next couple months will be interesting to see if there is a (lucrative) market outside of the UFC for fighters.
He just messed up! Does he really think someone is going to pay him 50,000 and 50,000? He will get half that which is about the same as maybe a 20/20 the UFC was offering. But he is throwing away the upside of the UFC for nothing. In the UFC you are 1 name win from big money, fame, and a title shot.
If your goal is just to make a few bucks. Why even fight? Go get a job! You make mma a career to be a star!
The problem with Aljamain is that he’s primarily a wrestler and he’s at 135. Dude that’s boring. Dude will really have to sell himself and get some finishes.
We’ll see what he gets paid, if he leaves the UFC at least he can make some money on sponsors. He’s got a decent following in the NY area