https://www.mmanews.com/news/dustin-poirier-slams-treatment-teammate-bellator-fighter-pfl-merger
UFC lightweight star Dustin Poirier has called for some long-awaited action to be made regarding the plight of a teammate.
Following its acquisition of rival promotion Bellator late last year, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has been looking to close the gap on the UFC, claiming to be pursuing “co-leader” status.
But in recent weeks and months, a number of fighters brought across from the Bellator roster have made their complaints about a number of matters known.
That’s included Alexandr Shabliy bemoaning the PFL for not honoring Grand Prix final stipulations in his now-canceled title fight against Usman Nurmagomedov, Gegard Mousasi claiming the promotion won’t book him until he agrees to a pay cut, and Cris Cyborg alleging that the higher-ups are failing to give her a requested fight.
Most recently, Sabah Homasi had an issue to bring to the surface. “The Sleek Sheikh” last fought at Bellator 299 in Dublin, Ireland, eight months ago, where a knockout loss left him with a badly broken orbital.
The 35-year-old, who was not kept on the books by the PFL post-Bellator merger, took to social media last month to reveal that he’s yet to be reimbursed as promised by his former organization for the surgery he was forced to undergo.
Poirier Joins Effort To Get Homasi’s Medical Bills Paid
During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Poirier took time to speak on his fellow American Top Team-trained fighter’s ongoing struggle in regard to securing the payment he was told to expect.
Be it the PFL or Bellator’s former owners, “The Diamond” insisted that his longtime teammate needs to be reimbursed, as was promised.
“This is a large megaphone for people to hear. I got a buddy and training partner of mine, Sabah Homasi. Former UFC fighter, been around a longtime, a stablemate of mine at American Top Team for the past 12 years,” Poirier said. "I’m not throwing any promotions under the bus. I just want people to hear this.
“I cornered him in Bellator in Dublin (last September). He fought, had an injury where he was stuck out there for a while. He ended up having to have surgery. This was in the process of Bellator selling to PFL,” Poirier continued. “Broken orbital, had to have surgery. He’s chasing them around trying to get this surgery taken care of, they tell him to pay for it and he’ll be reimbursed. My guy pays for it, has surgery, gets a plate put in his eye, and he never gets reimbursed… I don’t know who needs to hear this. I don’t know if this falls on PFL, back on Viacom, or if they’re playing volleyball back and forth with the bill. But my guy needs to be taken care of… It’s ridiculous.”
Helwani subsequently told Poirier that he would request a comment from the PFL regarding the issue, so it’s likely updates will come soon enough.
#1 Bullshit
This is how it goes in any career. I see it in finance where I work too and have seen many people do it.
Sure you can go to these small shops like Bellator and maybe make a bit more money than you would at the big company but you will constantly run the risk of getting fucked and making nothing or getting sold or going under.
I know so many people and friends that have done this and they’ve probably had 5 different jobs in the last 10 years that I’ve had one. They’ve probably made a bit more than me and that’s great. I could have done the exact same, I have the same connections to these places too, but I’m not trying to find a new job every other year with the risk of that next job not being there.
To each their own!
Definitely sucks for these fighters though, no denying that.
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Still hasn’t gotten paid
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