Jacob ?Stitch? Duran had spent 15 years as a cutman for the UFC, easily becoming one of the most recognizable figures in the promotion, as well as other combat sports.
However, after criticizing the UFC ? Reebok deal in 2015, Stich?s tenure with the UFC would come to an end, which he said ?was like a slap in the face.?
?That was like a slap in the face, but I knew I put myself in that situation,? Duran said on Hablemos MMA (via Danny Segura of MMA Junkie). ?But, being a Latino, I needed to fight for my rights.?
Stich rebounded well, as he has remained a cutman for a multitude of other MMA and boxing promotions, while also acting in several feature films. Duran has had five-plus years to reflect on his decision to criticize the UFC ? Reebok deal and Stitch is at peace with the whole situation.
?No, I was very at peace (with my decision),? Duran said. ?When that happened, I was thinking, ?OK, well, what am I going to do now? Where am I going to go?? But with all the support I got, and many people around the world reaching out, that gave me the energy and the confidence that I did the right thing, so I?m happy. People ask me, ?Hey have you seen Dana?? and I?m like, ?No, I haven?t seen him.? ?And if you see him, what are you going to say?? If I see Dana, I?ll shake his hand and thank him for letting me go because everything is going much better than before.?
The UFC ? Reebok deal comes to an end in March of 2021, as the UFC will reportedly move onto a new uniform partnership with Venom.
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