If you were Brandon Vera

[jukon]

What would you do?

So, your in your dream organization the UFC*. Your making highlight reels of your opponents and it doesn't look like its going to stop. Then you get offered a huge amount of money to sign with another organization. You ask the UFC to match the offer and they wont.

Would you go where the money is best, or would you stick with the UFC and try to become a star and actually deserve that kinda cash?





*Please note that I'm assuming that he would prefer to fight in the UFC because it is the biggest MMA promotion in his native land of America.

[dagreat1]

Originally Posted by jukon

What would you do?

So, your in your dream organization the UFC*. Your making highlight reels of your opponents and it doesn't look like its going to stop. Then you get offered a huge amount of money to sign with another organization. You ask the UFC to match the offer and they wont.

Would you go where the money is best, or would you stick with the UFC and try to become a star and actually deserve that kinda cash?





*Please note that I'm assuming that he would prefer to fight in the UFC because it is the biggest MMA promotion in his native land of America.

Exactly who are you to say that Vera does not deserve 6 figures per fight and a $1.5 million signing bonus? Boxers make up to $20 million per fight, MMA is massive now, it is on multiple cable channels, there are mass amounts of small organizations everywhere with the cash crop being the UFC, they can afforf it and Vera is worth it.

He has never been booed in his 3 UFC fights (which is such a rarity in the UFC), he's won every fight in impressive fashion, he is great on the microphone, the fans love him therefore he is incredibly marketable and would be a huge draw on the UFC within a year or 2.

He would become the 2nd most marketable HW in the UFC falling short of only Cro Cop (as he IS the future at HW and the UFC will market him relentlessly) as Couture is going to get eaten alive if not by Sylvia, by AA or Cro Cop. AA is horrid on the microphone, fans despise Sylvia, Herring may have blown it by fighting with a torn MCL and having to use that horrid crouch which caused his performance to be so poor, so that leaves Vera and he has the skills and charisma for great marketability.

Elite XC sees that and are going to make him a huge star, he, Frank Shamrock and Gina Corano are going to be the faces of Elite XC and it is going to take them a long way IMO.

[Dork8503]

Originally Posted by dagreat1

Exactly who are you to say that Vera does not deserve 6 figures per fight and a $1.5 million signing bonus? Boxers make up to $20 million per fight, MMA is massive now, it is on multiple cable channels, there are mass amounts of small organizations everywhere with the cash crop being the UFC, they can afforf it and Vera is worth it.

He has never been booed in his 3 UFC fights (which is such a rarity in the UFC), he's won every fight in impressive fashion, he is great on the microphone, the fans love him therefore he is incredibly marketable and would be a huge draw on the UFC within a year or 2.

He would become the 2nd most marketable HW in the UFC falling short of only Cro Cop (as he IS the future at HW and the UFC will market him relentlessly) as Couture is going to get eaten alive if not by Sylvia, by AA or Cro Cop. AA is horrid on the microphone, fans despise Sylvia, Herring may have blown it by fighting with a torn MCL and having to use that horrid crouch which caused his performance to be so poor, so that leaves Vera and he has the skills and charisma for great marketability.

Elite XC sees that and are going to make him a huge star, he, Frank Shamrock and Gina Corano are going to be the faces of Elite XC and it is going to take them a long way IMO.

couldnt agree more

[Legend]

Originally Posted by dagreat1

Exactly who are you to say that Vera does not deserve 6 figures per fight and a $1.5 million signing bonus? Boxers make up to $20 million per fight, MMA is massive now, it is on multiple cable channels, there are mass amounts of small organizations everywhere with the cash crop being the UFC, they can afforf it and Vera is worth it.

He has never been booed in his 3 UFC fights (which is such a rarity in the UFC), he's won every fight in impressive fashion, he is great on the microphone, the fans love him therefore he is incredibly marketable and would be a huge draw on the UFC within a year or 2.

He would become the 2nd most marketable HW in the UFC falling short of only Cro Cop (as he IS the future at HW and the UFC will market him relentlessly) as Couture is going to get eaten alive if not by Sylvia, by AA or Cro Cop. AA is horrid on the microphone, fans despise Sylvia, Herring may have blown it by fighting with a torn MCL and having to use that horrid crouch which caused his performance to be so poor, so that leaves Vera and he has the skills and charisma for great marketability.

Elite XC sees that and are going to make him a huge star, he, Frank Shamrock and Gina Corano are going to be the faces of Elite XC and it is going to take them a long way IMO.

You make good points as usual Great1. However, I think that the UFC does not want to match the offer due to not wanting to set a precedent of having to shell out that kind of money to resign guys who are not already super stars. Now I will not deny that Vera has the potential to be a super star but right now he is not.

Plus from what I hear Vera has done some things (not exactly sure what) that have not put him in good graces with Dana and the Fertitta's. In addition, if the UFC did match the offer who's to say that Elite would not up the offer by another 20 to 30 % or more. Now whether or not this is a mistake by the UFC to let Vera go and not set that precedent we will just have to wait and see.

My personal opinion is considering the state of the HW division in the UFC and Vera's potential to become the next big super star I would have to seriously consider matching the offer. But if I did then I would make sure I signed him for a long time.


P.S. Vera has had 4 fights in the UFC not 3.

[dagreat1]

Originally Posted by thelegendrvb

You make good points as usual Great1. However, I think that the UFC does not want to match the offer due to not wanting to set a precedent of having to shell out that kind of money to resign guys who are not already super stars. Now I will not deny that Vera has the potential to be a super star but right now he is not.

Plus from what I hear Vera has done some things (not exactly sure what) that have not put him in good graces with Dana and the Fertitta's. In addition, if the UFC did match the offer who's to say that Elite would not up the offer by another 20 to 30 % or more. Now whether or not this is a mistake by the UFC to let Vera go and not set that precedent we will just have to wait and see.

My personal opinion is considering the state of the HW division in the UFC and Vera's potential to become the next big super star I would have to seriously consider matching the offer. But if I did then I would make sure I signed him for a long time.


P.S. Vera has had 4 fights in the UFC not 3.

I certainly agree with you and that surely must be the reasoning behinf them not matching the offer because Diego, Rashad, Hermes, Marquardt and many others would be approaching Dana with a plead for higher pay.

Yes I completely forgot about the Eilers fight which is ironic because that was by far my favorite and most memorable of Vera's UFC fights.:banghead:

[J-diggler]

Do you really think Elite XC is going to go along way? I'd take a sig bet on that. Everyone was on the nuts of the WFA when they brought in Linland and Rampage and look how far that got them.
Doesn't seem like a smart move to strong arm dana when in all likely hood if you want to fight in the US long term your going to have to deal with him.

[mjeffers365]

there is no question about it at this point if I am Brandon Vera I take the higher cash offer. I mean it doesnt matter if its UFC or Pride or Midwest Fights or whomever the promoters and managers do not care about the fighters. People for years got on about how boxers got ripped off by promoters well heck at least they got paid the money in the first place to get ripped off. Yes Vera had potential to earn all those endorsement money and exposure by staying in the UFC but seems like if you piss off Dana White it wouldnt matter seemed like Vera was just one loss away from getting put in obscurity. Plus lets say Brandon played ball and got his title shot if he lost to Sylvia even by a ripoff robbery that offer from the other organization might not be there. You know damn well if Dana White got offered twice as much money than what Zuffa pays him he would jump ship and he doesnt put his health on the line like Vera does.

[foutch550]

Just watched an old Vera match vs. Fabiano ? and he said he was going to win the HW title, then drop down and take the LHW title. I wonder if he could have???? Anyway...wherever he goes, he should just be careful not to burn bridges. Way too young and this sport really is just getting mainstream to piss on longterm opportunities for the $$ here and now. I think Vera will get his money no matter what, but it would have been nice to see a little loyalty to the UFC.

[J-diggler]

ok but what good is a contract for 1 million a fight if that company isn't putting on promotions anymore? Think dana will welcome you back with the same $200,000 per fight deal he offered you. How much do you think dana will think you're worth if you happen to loose a fight? What option is left at that point, go to japan and get dismantled loosing your credibility?

[DonFrye]

Let the dude make his money while he's young. That's important to him right now. He'll polish his skills and serve as the flag ship for EXC. The competition will come down the road.