image
MMA
UFC Releases PPV Headliner
image
John Pollock
Fight Network Journalist

POSTED: November 19, 2008 - 11:12 pm

CATEGORIES: MMA

MMA Weekly broke the news that the UFC has released Welterweight fighter Jon Fitch due to an impasse during contract negotiations where the UFC was attempting to obtain lifetime rights to the image and likeness of Fitch as it pertains to current and future UFC video games.

Fitch (17-3) recently headlined the August 9, 2008 UFC 87 Pay Per View in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he lost via unanimous decision to Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.

It was announced Wednesday that Fitch would be fighting Akihiro Gono at the January 31st 2009 UFC 94 event but that is clearly off.

MMA Weekly also confirms that Christian Wellisch has been released over the same set of circumstances. Wellisch (8-4) was 2-2 in the UFC with wins over Anthony Perosh and Scott Junk and losses to Cheick Kongo and most recently Shane Carwin at the May 24th UFC 84 event in Las Vegas.

COMMENTS (3): Submit A Comment
1. Canadian fighter
November 20, 2008 - 8:05 am

WOW!!!!! Dana gonna start to fuck himself over that cheap ass BITCH!!!!!!

2. Dwayne Zinkin
November 20, 2008 - 9:33 am

MMAMania was first to report. Do your research instead of using google alerts you fucking idiot.

3. TheIncredibleHank
November 20, 2008 - 3:17 pm

Dana White is starting to be a bully and tyrant. I believe White is paniking over the recent court decision the U.S. district court ruled in favour of retired NFL players against the NFLPA in regards to likeness usage in video games. White should repect the fighters' decision to not sign an agreement of a lifetime surrender of likeness or appearance. Just don't include them in the video game in the future. White has got to ask himself is he in business of promoting MMA fights or in the video gaming busness. He should stick to what he does best. and that is promote the UFC. He should allow the fighters the ability to keep and control their intellectual property of their likeness. That would be a goodwill gesture on his part. It is the cost of doing business. Alresdy, this is creating negative publicity by dropping a fighter because he won't sell his likeness over to the UFC organization. Dana has to realize that it can't be a cold heartless company that wants to keep a fighters likeness forever like what the WWE and the NFL do in their license agreement with their prospective employees. White crossed the line by disclosing what Fitch made in his last bout during a radio interview. He has got to remain on a professional level and not use profanity like an primative lout. He shouldn't cry about the harsh realites of the economy because everyone has to deal with it also. White complained that he lives in an airplane, well it beats a car or dumpster, buddy. Dana has got to realize that these fighter's career are short and that it take a physical long term effect in their qaulity of life. It sad to hear some of these guy sound punch-drunk before they hit middle age The fighters should be compensated for their likeness in way shape and form. It's bad enough he is profitting off the physical damage that the fighters take for the ridiculous amount of money thay are paid. More power to the fighters like Fitch that wants to keep control of their likeness. White should'nt be stubborn on this issue, the video gaming sales are only a spin-off source of revenue. People will do when I do when I play my video games, I create my own characters in the game.I create my own likeness and Marvel and DC Universe characters.in the roleplaying games like thw Raw vs Smakedown, NHL, Tiger Woods golf. It's fun to create new characters, but some time and creativity is involved, but cool nonetheless. Fitch should do everything in his power to keep his likeness. I side with the fighters on this one.

Security Question: 20 + 20 + 25 ?
image
image
All Articles
Videos
Blogs
News