Earlier this week, on a conference call for the World Series of Fighting 3 event, Jon Fitch took the opportunity to vent to the media about how felt he was being treated by the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion, labeling it a “hostile work environment.” In an interview with MMA Junkie, UFC President Dana White took aim at Fitch’s claims, revealing the amount of discretionary bonus money that Fitch had been paid during his time with the Ultimate Fighting Championships.
In the time Jon Fitch was with us, we paid him $302,000 in discretionary bonuses – $302,000. That’s money that me and Lorenzo decided to give him above and beyond the deal that he signed. He also made $130,000 on performance bonuses for his two ‘Fight of the Night’ bonuses. That’s a hostile work environment? Everything that Jon Fitch said is complete and total bull—t.
Jon Fitch said he was working under a hostile work environment and that he never had an opportunity and should have double the wins he had with us,” White said. “He was complaining about what he had to go through here, about people saying stuff under their breath to him and all this bulls—. Jon Fitch is so full of s–t. He’s f—ing delusional. First of all, he had every opportunity that anyone else had. After Georges St-Pierre beat the living s–t out of him, did we treat him differently or anything?
“Just to lay it out with facts, Jon Fitch lost to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 87. He had an opportunity to fight for the title, and he got destroyed in that fight. He fought to a draw with B.J. Penn in a top contender fight. Then he gets a chance to be a No. 1 contender again and gets knocked f—in dead in the first round by Johny Hendricks. What f—ing opportunities has he not been given?
This is the first time that White has ever revealed the full extent of the discretionary bonuses he’s given to fighters over and above their official pay. The fact he’s released this information shows he’s clearly become irritated with Jon Fitch’s claims. Will there be another salvo in this battle between the ex-employee and his former boss? Stay tuned to MMASucka for more on this and other stories as they develop.
[hr] Follow Justin on Twitter (@StormlandBrand), and keep up with the latest MMA news from MMASucka via Twitter (@MMASucka) and Facebook.
