TUESDAY NEWS DIGEST 4/30: Jacare not retiring says manager, ONE institutes rigid fighter management criteria, PFL signs former WWE ring announcer, more

By Michael Hiscoe, Managing Editor

Jacare
Apr 27, 2019; Sunrise, FL, USA; Jacare Souza (red gloves) prepares for his bout against Jack Hermansson (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

No way

Jacare Souza suffered an upset loss to Jack Hermansson on Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale. It was a tough loss that will set him back in his quest to get a UFC middleweight title shot, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to give up any time soon. Prior to the fight, Souza had hinted at retirement if things didn’t go his way, but he seems to have changed his tune.

Souza’s manager Gilberto Faria was concise to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani when asked if his client is going to retire.

“No way,” he said in a text message.

ONE Agent Certification Program

ONE FC is instituting rigid new policies in order for fighters to have representation in negotiations with the promotion. The “ONE Agent Certification Program” was announced yesterday with the following requirements for managers:

  • Currently a resident in Asia for at least one year
  • No prior criminal record
  • No history of current ongoing  matters of legal or lawsuit activity with any athlete
  • A minimum of 10 years of related experience in the martial arts industry
  • Must possess a College or University Degree

These criteria may make it difficult for some of ONE’s recent American signings such as Eddie Alvarez and Demetrious Johnson negotiate in the future, as their representation lives in North America. It also makes it all but impossible for anyone but a few select individuals in ONE’s home region being able to negotiate on behalf of fighters.

It’s a policy that only favors the promotion and the few qualified managers.

Additionally, ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong touted the ONE Elite Agency,  an “invitation only” agency for ONE’s top 10% of athletes. It’s unclear what measure is being used to determine the top 10% other than what Sityodtong calls “global hero promise in and out of the circle of competition.”

With these announcements, it appears that ONE is trying to have full control over its fighters and who they negotiate with.

Tuesday Notebook

-PFL has signed former WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia to be the promotion’s in-cage announcer.  “I’m looking forward to stepping in the cage and getting back to introducing fighters to the masses, something I truly love and have missed,” Garcia said.

-Firas Zahabi told Ariel Helwani on his ESPN talk show that he doesn’t expect Rory MacDonald to retire. “The kid’s a natural-born fighter, and I feel like he’s going to continue on his journey,” he said (transcribed by MMAFighting).

-Luigi Vendramini is out of his June 1 UFC Stockholm fight with Nick Hein due to a knee injury.

In case you missed it

NEW PODCAST: MMA Talk for Pro Wrestling Fans talking UFC Fort Lauderdale, Bellator 220, UFC Ottawa preview and more

ROUNDTABLE: Who should Jack Hermansson fight next?

 

 

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