Bruce Buffer, affectionately known as the “Veteran Voice of the Octagon,” has been announcing fights since 1996, so I think it’s fair to say the part-time elevator brawler knows a thing or two about the trajectory of UFC fighters.
That’s why Buffer believes athletes who leave the promotion in search of greener pastures find themselves fading away into obscurity.
“No offense to other organizations, but you become irrelevant when you leave the UFC after a while. Instead of losing in the UFC your contract is being ended in the UFC and you fall from the Octagon down into the Bellators.”
I guess the counter to that argument is that some fighters, like Ryan Bader and Corey Anderson, have been able to double their salaries by changing teams.
UFC is in danger of losing heavyweight titleholder Francis Ngannou, fresh off his championship performance against Ciryl Gane, who not only desires a pay increase, but also wants the ability to compete in boxing when the opportunity arises.
To date, the promotion has remained bullish on his requests.
Bruce Buffer is one of the most recognizable voices in the world of combat sports. He has been the UFC announcer for 26 years and is now a brand in himself. Buffer started working with the UFC when it was struggling to stay relevant. He stuck with the promotion saw it become what it is today.
The ‘Veteran Voice of the Octagon,’ in the latest episode of his podcast, had Francis Ngannou as a guest. ‘The Predator’ is currently having contract issues with the UFC, and later in the podcast, Buffer talked about it. While discussing fighters leaving UFC and joining other organizations, he had this to say.
Ngannou’s contract expires by the end of this year and he is not willing to fight again under the current one. The contract dispute between him and the UFC has been going on for a very long time. And according to the champion, it is not about the money. He is fighting for his freedom and wants to be treated as an independent contractor.
Both parties will be working towards a solution. Ngannou is currently on the sidelines and will be for some time because of injuries.
