UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski recently make a big statement in regards to comments made by both Paddy Pimblett and Sean O’Malley and their current UFC contracts.
Speaking ahead of his massive UFC 276 trilogy fight against Max Holloway, Volkanovski discussed both men saying that they want to get a new UFC contract before they start fighting ranked opponents.
O’Malley is also set to be appearing on UFC 276 and Pimblett will be a major part once again of the UFC’s return to the UK for UFC London in July 2022.
Here is what Alexander Volkanovski had to say with regards to comments from Paddy Pimblett and Sean O’Malley about their UFC contracts.
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Volkanovski on UFC Contracts
Speaking on Adesanya’s FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Volkanovski agreed with the premise that contests against top 15 ranked fighters should come with a new contract.
He said: “I agree with it. I know a lot of people are gonna hate it you know what I mean? But look man, I don't mind that too much. But I think this is a step up [for O’Malley] it's not an easy fight.”
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Pimblett and O’Malley’s Remarks
Ricky Hatton has told Paddy Pimblett to stay away from the booze and junk food
This correlates with comments made by Paddy The Baddy that he made following the UFC London event earlier this year.
Speaking to the media following his win on the night, the Liverpudlian fighter confirmed that he has no intention of moving up the ranks until he gets a different remuneration and contract.
He said at the post-fight presser (via Sherdog): “I wouldn’t take a top 15 fight. I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t. Add some more zeroes to my contract and then I will. I think I proved tonight that I deserve a new contract. Not this little standard one.”
Speaking to the No Jumper podcast back in 2021, O’Malley said that he gets paid the same currently no matter who he faces.
He said (via MMA Junkie): “Next fight, a lot of people want me to fight someone ranked. They wanted me to fight someone ranked last fight. I was supposed to fight Louis Smolka (at UFC 264).
“For me, I have a contract to fight a certain amount of fights, and I’m gonna get paid a certain amount of money whether I fight Louis Smolka, the dude I was supposed to fight, or I fight Petr Yan, the No. 1 bantamweight in the UFC.
“I get paid the same. I’m gonna fight this dude (who is lower). And I’m going to fight this dude on a Conor McGregor pay-per-view.”
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 11: Sean O'Malley celebrates his knockout victory over Raulian Paiva of Brazil in their bantamweight fight during the UFC 269 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 11, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
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