Artem Vakhitov won a UFC contract last October but has not fought in the promotion due to a dispute over the lockstep pay of contestants.
Vakhitov, a former kickboxer with a resume that included former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, had hoped that the two could fight again, this time in the Octagon.
That is not going to happen per a story from MMA Junkie.
When it came down to his UFC contract, he indicated that there were “strict conditions” for fighters coming through the contender series. One of the conditions was the self-imposed inability to offer more money than the standard contracts for all fighters. Despite Vakhitov’s extensive muay thai and kickboxing record, the UFC would not budge on offering more money. And despite his offer for the UFC, it appears that Vakhitov is looking elsewhere for his MMA career.
Payout Perspective:
Although most know, its clear that DWCS is a way for the company to find up and coming talent for the organization and pay them at a starting rate. Most of the new fighters entering the UFC are coming from DWCS. This enables the company to control payroll. Moreover, it creates a uniform standard rather than having fighters come in and negotiate deals. Thus, it mutes the role of an agent or manager who usually attempts to negotiate better deals. One might see this as a way to suppress wages. But, of course, with the current political climate, its hard to think anything can be done.
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