In 2017, free agency has become a real thing in mixed martial arts.
A few years ago, fighters competing in the UFC didn’t have a solid alternative to turn to if they found themselves unhappy in their deals — whether it was due to pay, general treatment, lack of marketing, sponsorship opportunities, USADA, or anything else. Free agency, for the most part, meant Bellator.
For some time, under the early regime of Scott Coker, it looked as though only coveted brand name fighters could find a second life under the Viacom-owned promotion. However, today it’s a bit of a different story.