Shock was the emotion experienced by many when it was revealed that the UFC cut featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez for allegedly turning down multiple fights.
UFC President Dana White is now warning fighters that the same thing can happen to them if they turn down fights he offers.
“When I call you and offer you a fight, you should probably take it. You should probably take it,” White said at the UFC Fight Night Liverpool post-fight press conference. “I make 42 fights a year. And if you don’t want to fight, and if you want to be picky and choosy, and you don’t want to do this and you don’t want to do that, then you probably need to go somewhere else. And I’ll help you get there.”
White is not the usual match maker for the UFC, as those duties are usually handled by Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard.
The UFC President doesn’t have any harsh feelings towards Rodriguez, but claims the UFC may not be for him.
“We offered him fights, he turned down the fights. There was a lot more back and forth that went on with that. If you don’t want to fight, this isn’t the place to be,” White said. “There’s plenty of places out there that will take Yair Rodriguez, and would love to have him, and would sign him, and I’m sure he’ll have a great career. This isn’t the place for you.”
Rodriguez has yet to sign with a promotion since being booted from the UFC, but he is free to negotiate with every promotion out there.
