Bellator, PFL reportedly pass on Romero

Underground
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On the latest DC & Helwani show, Ariel commented on the release of top UFC middleweight Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero, who reportedly had three fights left on his contract. Romero is 1-4 his last five fights, but three of the four losses were in title fights, two of the three were controversial, and the sole loss that was not in a title fight won Fight of the Night.

At the UFC on ESPN 19 post-fight press conference, league president Dana White said it was only the beginning of cutting close to 10% of the roster. And in a bad turn for the fighters who will be released, Helwani reports that the two other best-funded US promotions are taking a pass.

“Surprisingly, I’m told Bellator’s not interested, I’m told PFL’s not interested. Surprisingly,” said Helwani. “So there’s Rizin, there’s ONE, there’s KSW. I just hope that Yoel Romero, one of the all-time best wrestlers in the history of the sport . . . I just hope he doesn’t end up in some place like Bare Knuckle or something like that because he deserves better. He deserves to be fighting for a big promotion.”

Cole Shelton for BJPenn.com reached out to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship president, David Feldman, who hopes to meet with Romero and his management in short order.

“We are very interested," said Feldman. "How could we not be? He has BKFC written all over him. He would be a welcomed addition, we will see if we can make it happen."

Any thought, UG, on why a towering talent like Romero is not snatched up stateside immediately? Has the COVID-19 global pandemic cut too deeply into revenue? Would it look bad if a 43-year-old came in and wrecked house at middleweight, and potentially at light heavyweight too?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jid6JDlu-I0

Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting

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'OK fella. that's a lot of money you're asking for there... we know you're a big name, you're a complete specimen and have done great things... its just... if we pay you all that.. can you say for sure you won't just stand still and literally do nothing?'

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Sounds like budget problems for those two companies.  Romero is nothing like Anderson Silva.  He still has some great fights left in the tank.  Anderson was one of the best to ever do it, but that time has passed and him beating any of their top guys or up and comers would make them look bad.  Romero on the other hand is still a championship caliber fighter.

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quality -

Sounds like budget problems for those two companies.  Romero is nothing like Anderson Silva.  He still has some great fights left in the tank.  Anderson was one of the best to ever do it, but that time has passed and him beating any of their top guys or up and comers would make them look bad.  Romero on the other hand is still a championship caliber fighter.

Yeah nobody is really gonna be signing big names right now. BKFC might make an offer but there’s no way that Yoel will get paid what he’s worth. 

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I think it has to do with covid more than the orgs not wanting these guys.  They can’t promote live events with a gate and aren’t doing many shows right now.  If things open back up all these guys will get signed IMO.

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There ain’t much money in mma these days, I still don’t know wtf they were doing over at DAZN giving Canelo a $300 million contract.

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TzTinkle - There ain't much money in mma these days, I still don't know wtf they were doing over at DAZN giving Canelo a $300 million contract.

To be fair, he has to pay his judges out of that money, too.

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PFL is probably about broke at this point. They haven't held an even in how long, and their fighters are fighting elsewhere. No shit they can't afford Yoel. Bellator should go out of their way to get Romero, but seeing as how they let Chandler go, I'm thinking they don't have much more cash left for contracts. 

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He should go to one and take every belt from mw up, he could probably do it in one night if he wanted.

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Let's have Anderson vs Yoel!

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Probably wants UFC money and they don't want to pay him that much.

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TzTinkle - There ain't much money in mma these days, I still don't know wtf they were doing over at DAZN giving Canelo a $300 million contract.

This . Bellator does not have the money to pay Romero his usual purse. Besides, He’s 43 so what do they do? Have him beat a few of their top guys, have him fight for the title, win it from Mousasi(Romero beats Mousasi at this time) and retire?

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KhabibWinsTheRematch - 

PFL is probably about broke at this point. They haven't held an even in how long, and their fighters are fighting elsewhere. No shit they can't afford Yoel. Bellator should go out of their way to get Romero, but seeing as how they let Chandler go, I'm thinking they don't have much more cash left for contracts. 

I am shocked PFL is still alive. How are they turning a profit? Same goes for bellator

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Its so dirty that Ariel would say that Bellator and PFL are not interested in Yoel.

These fight organisations should not be telling reporters who they are not interested in, it fucks the fighters contract up with all the other organisations. Now Yoel loses his bargaining power.

Its a fucking gross practice that is very new, it happened with Anderson and now Yoel. We as a community need to nip this in the bud right now and let these people know its not cool.

The Underground should not post these stories on the front page. You are fucking with peoples money.

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Can you imagine is Ariel lost his job as ESPN and I went out and called Fox Sports, The New York Times, CBS, The Fight Network and whoever else and got them to tell me that they wern't interested? Now I make a youtube video and an article telling the whole world.

Then Ariel has to go to some C list organisation knowing full well that they know no one wants him. Now he has to take whatever money they give him. Its fucking gross as fuck.

Imagine you are trying to pick up some chick at a bar and I go around the room getting women to tell me they would never fuck you and are not interested. Then I go tell that chick you are trying to bang "Hey listen, no one wants to fuck that dude. Just an FYI I did a little survey and they all took a pass. Maybe have a think about if you wanna bang him." Fucking dick move.

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Kirik -

On the latest DC & Helwani show, Ariel commented on the release of top UFC middleweight Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero, who reportedly had three fights left on his contract. Romero is 1-4 his last five fights, but three of the four losses were in title fights, two of the three were controversial, and the sole loss that was not in a title fight won Fight of the Night.

At the UFC on ESPN 19 post-fight press conference, league president Dana White said it was only the beginning of cutting close to 10% of the roster. And in a bad turn for the fighters who will be released, Helwani reports that the two other best-funded US promotions are taking a pass.

“Surprisingly, I’m told Bellator’s not interested, I’m told PFL’s not interested. Surprisingly,” said Helwani. “So there’s Rizin, there’s ONE, there’s KSW. I just hope that Yoel Romero, one of the all-time best wrestlers in the history of the sport . . . I just hope he doesn’t end up in some place like Bare Knuckle or something like that because he deserves better. He deserves to be fighting for a big promotion.”

Cole Shelton for BJPenn.com reached out to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship president, David Feldman, who hopes to meet with Romero and his management in short order.

“We are very interested," said Feldman. "How could we not be? He has BKFC written all over him. He would be a welcomed addition, we will see if we can make it happen."

Any thought, UG, on why a towering talent like Romero is not snatched up stateside immediately? Has the COVID-19 global pandemic cut too deeply into revenue? Would it look bad if a 43-year-old came in and wrecked house at middleweight, and potentially at light heavyweight too?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jid6JDlu-I0

Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting

Ariel looks fruity

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Why can't bellator just shut the foook up. The 2 dirtiest most begging companies in mma trying to put out this image that they are too good for people like Yoel and Anderson. We all know they don't have the finances so they should just stop trying to ruin these fighters image and most importantly bargaining power with other organisations. 

I hope bellator and pfl go bankrupt after these two dirty moves they have pulled off

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SportScience -

Can you imagine is Ariel lost his job as ESPN and I went out and called Fox Sports, The New York Times, CBS, The Fight Network and whoever else and got them to tell me that they wern't interested? Now I make a youtube video and an article telling the whole world.

Then Ariel has to go to some C list organisation knowing full well that they know no one wants him. Now he has to take whatever money they give him. Its fucking gross as fuck.

Imagine you are trying to pick up some chick at a bar and I go around the room getting women to tell me they would never fuck you and are not interested. Then I go tell that chick you are trying to bang "Hey listen, no one wants to fuck that dude. Just an FYI I did a little survey and they all took a pass. Maybe have a think about if you wanna bang him." Fucking dick move.

Ariel has long been a weasel and has no problem fucking with a fighters career if it benefits him. I’ve been saying this ever since he came on the scene, that fucking weenie has no reason to be part of the sport. Soft, effeminate, bitch made male who’s never done a physical thing in his life.

I remember him crying like a pussy when he thought someone was fucking with his job, yet here the hypocrite is fucking with other people's livelihoods.

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Sad how GREAT fighters like these, promoters would KILL for, only to act like they are worthless at the end of it all.

Silva didn’t look horrible vs Hall & Romero is still a top 5 MW.

Rizin did what was right & said they would take Anderson & help him fulfill his wish simply for all the work he put into building this shit & memories he gave us.

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Bellator is cutting costs

PFL is basically ran by that terrorist Ali and he wants his guys to win each division so little chance they sign a top guy that’s not managed by him as that will make it harder for Ali’s guys to win MW.