Tanner Rhoden
03-21-2003, 08:55 AM
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What is the Future for MURILO BUSTAMANTE?
Submitted by: Marcello Tetel
Posted On 03/21/2003
With the Brazilian TOP TEAM in Japan recently for the PRIDE 25 show, we learned more about 185 lb UFC Champion Murilo Bustamante and Zuffa. With Murilo in Japan supporting the team, his thoughts and plans also are starting to emerge. It has been more than one year of negotiations for his return to the octagon, so after a long wait it appears that we are close to seeing the destiny of the UFC Middleweight Champion.
Bustamante reportedly fielded an offer to re-sign with the UFC immediately after his first title defense against Matt Lindland, and was not pleased with the amount of the offer as well as the way the offer was presented. Zuffa uses to pay the fighters a purse to fight and a win bonus, and this was the main subject when discussing the renewal. Bustamante's management feels that the win bonus is an incentive for fighters who are not going for finishes in the fights. Obviously, this doesnt include Murilo!! Additionally, Bustamante's management stated that although Zuffa's president went to the locker room to apologize for the bad decision after the UFC 33 (against Chuck Lidell), nobody compensated him financially for the bad decision, meaning the win bonus had already cost Bustamante a considerable amount.
Negotiations ensued for Murilo's follow up to the UFC 33 fiasco, and he got a title shot in the weight division lower, where he KO'd Dave Menne and became champion. He defended his belt 4 months later. Bustamante's camp started to negotiate the renewal before the UFC 37 defense in Louisiana (where he was the main event), but could not agree on terms, and Zuffa stopped the negotiations until after the fight happened. After the fight Bustamante considered himself even more valuable than before due to how he fought (Bustamante had a serious injury to his finger) and how the fight ended up (beating Matt Lindland more than convincigly).
After months of negotiations between both camps, Zuffa offered the final purse and told Bustamante's manager to feel free to find better options around. Due to contract obligations, Murilo had to show the offer to Zuffa and they had the right to match the offer. Reports state that the difference between offers was around 20%.
That was the last word from both camps during several months and seems Zuffa started to think on how to run the divison without Murilo Bustamante counting he was out of the game. Then Phil Baroni started to win his fights at the same time and was pumped by Zuffa as a promisse.
In the end of 2002, Murilo was offered a fight in Japan, but due to visa problems and a short notice invitation, Murilo was not able to compete. His management offered Zuffa the deal to match, and offered for Murilo to fight for the previous offer made by Zuffa. Zuffa's refusal of this deal means everything started to become harder.
The last renewal attempt was an offer made for UFC 42, where Murilo would fight a one fight deal if, and only if, Baroni would win over Lindland. Again money was an issue, and Baroni did not win anyway.
May 10th is the one year anniversary of Bustamante's last fight, and both parties are released of contractual obligations. It appears this is another reason Murilo Bustamante was at the Pride 25, with his UFC belt in tow, challenging anyone and everyone. Murilo is reportedly very close to a deal to fight in the next Pride 26 show on June 8th.
What is the Future for MURILO BUSTAMANTE?
Submitted by: Marcello Tetel
Posted On 03/21/2003
With the Brazilian TOP TEAM in Japan recently for the PRIDE 25 show, we learned more about 185 lb UFC Champion Murilo Bustamante and Zuffa. With Murilo in Japan supporting the team, his thoughts and plans also are starting to emerge. It has been more than one year of negotiations for his return to the octagon, so after a long wait it appears that we are close to seeing the destiny of the UFC Middleweight Champion.
Bustamante reportedly fielded an offer to re-sign with the UFC immediately after his first title defense against Matt Lindland, and was not pleased with the amount of the offer as well as the way the offer was presented. Zuffa uses to pay the fighters a purse to fight and a win bonus, and this was the main subject when discussing the renewal. Bustamante's management feels that the win bonus is an incentive for fighters who are not going for finishes in the fights. Obviously, this doesnt include Murilo!! Additionally, Bustamante's management stated that although Zuffa's president went to the locker room to apologize for the bad decision after the UFC 33 (against Chuck Lidell), nobody compensated him financially for the bad decision, meaning the win bonus had already cost Bustamante a considerable amount.
Negotiations ensued for Murilo's follow up to the UFC 33 fiasco, and he got a title shot in the weight division lower, where he KO'd Dave Menne and became champion. He defended his belt 4 months later. Bustamante's camp started to negotiate the renewal before the UFC 37 defense in Louisiana (where he was the main event), but could not agree on terms, and Zuffa stopped the negotiations until after the fight happened. After the fight Bustamante considered himself even more valuable than before due to how he fought (Bustamante had a serious injury to his finger) and how the fight ended up (beating Matt Lindland more than convincigly).
After months of negotiations between both camps, Zuffa offered the final purse and told Bustamante's manager to feel free to find better options around. Due to contract obligations, Murilo had to show the offer to Zuffa and they had the right to match the offer. Reports state that the difference between offers was around 20%.
That was the last word from both camps during several months and seems Zuffa started to think on how to run the divison without Murilo Bustamante counting he was out of the game. Then Phil Baroni started to win his fights at the same time and was pumped by Zuffa as a promisse.
In the end of 2002, Murilo was offered a fight in Japan, but due to visa problems and a short notice invitation, Murilo was not able to compete. His management offered Zuffa the deal to match, and offered for Murilo to fight for the previous offer made by Zuffa. Zuffa's refusal of this deal means everything started to become harder.
The last renewal attempt was an offer made for UFC 42, where Murilo would fight a one fight deal if, and only if, Baroni would win over Lindland. Again money was an issue, and Baroni did not win anyway.
May 10th is the one year anniversary of Bustamante's last fight, and both parties are released of contractual obligations. It appears this is another reason Murilo Bustamante was at the Pride 25, with his UFC belt in tow, challenging anyone and everyone. Murilo is reportedly very close to a deal to fight in the next Pride 26 show on June 8th.