Jake Shields signs for $80,000 to show and win. Dana White's pimp hand is very strong
by S.C. Michaelson on Jul 25, 2010 3:15 PM EDT
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Hey, Dana, baby I got your money
Don't you worry, I said hey.
Baby I got your money
Former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields recently ended his free agent status by signing with the UFC. While many fans and members of the media expected a highly-contested bidding war between the two companies, instead Shields was signed to the UFC with little fanfare. Steve Cofield, of Yahoo Sports, reported on MMA Live that Shields signed for 80K to show and 80K to win (no word on potential bonuses). For the champion of a rival organization and the number three fighter in his weight-class that number is absurdly low. Comparatively, take a look at Rampage Jackson and Mirko Cro Cop's UFC debuts where they earned 100K to show and 350K flat fee respectively. And that was three years ago, salaries have increased almost two-fold. In current dollars, Jake Shields makes less than Matt Serra.
How did this happen? Simply put, Strikeforce didnt' like the hand they were dealt and folded before the flop. Dana stated before Shields' contract was even up that he would be entering the bidding war to "drive [Shields' salary] motherfucker up". So when Shields' contract expired, a bidding war (beneficial to Shields) would ensue. However, a funny thing began to happen. Jake Shields began to show up on UFC and WEC PPVs and events, many times flocked by a smiling Dana White. He hadn't signed with the UFC, but he was giving the impression to all that he was heavily leaning towards them. All the while, White is grinning like a Cheshire cat as he is sticking it to his rival company.
And then as suddenly as it started, it ended. Strikeforce had never even tried to negotiate with Shields and proceeded to strip the title from Shields in addition to announcing a middleweight title match at Strikeforce: Houston in August. Jake was now left with no bargaining power; forced to basically sign what offer the UFC proposed as he had burned his bridge with Strikeforce.
SO who was the big winner in this situation? Dana White. Not only did he get to flaunt his rival's champion in their faces and flood the media with comments about their mismanagement, but he he was then (as a direct result of his showboating) able to sign Shields for less than what it more than likely would've cost to sign him. with Strikeforce in the mix.
An objective observer is left baffled; why would Jake Shields knowingly behave in this manner? His actions were akin to a scorned 16-year old girl showing up to the school dance with that jerk that always picked on her now ex-boyfriend. There is no logic behind it. And don't think for a second White didn't think that his actions could possibly lead to this result. White hasn't gotten to where he is without thinking most situations through to their completion. Truth.com, Jake Shields, you got played.
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So Dana is the biggest winner in the Shields signing? Agreed. I feel like somebody on BE said in a Fan Post that the UFC was hoping for a bidding war and that things “blew up in their face” when that bidding war never happened, and instead they got him on the cheap.
Oh wait, here it is. Turns out it was some Black Lesnar dude that said it.
Just Blog Guy - http://JustBlogGuy.wordpress.com/
hahahaha
Zing!
Even a broken clock is right two times a day.
by Chris Toffer on Jul 25, 2010 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice try.
Shields’ Fitch-ian style of fighting doesn’t put asses in seats or draw viewers like Rampage or Cro Cop, hence the “low” salary.
Hadoken!!
It's not like if he rattles off two submissions over top contenders he wouldn't get resigned at a higher dollar
Even a broken clock is right two times a day.
by Chris Toffer on Jul 25, 2010 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Aside from his last two fights, he finished 5 in a row
Cause there's only one, and that's me
You understand? for all that fighting, you understand
That sucka think he good, that sucka think he can whoop me
And i know he can't whoop me, Ay boy, the n**** whole style is chump
by S.C. Michaelson on Jul 26, 2010 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
i know
I’m sayin if he did this inside the octagon he would get a contract extension withmore money
Even a broken clock is right two times a day.
by Chris Toffer on Jul 26, 2010 2:51 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
i believehe finished 8 in a row too ;-)
Even a broken clock is right two times a day.
by Chris Toffer on Jul 26, 2010 2:54 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Since when is constant advancement of position that results in dominant position LNP? It’s more annoying than people who think someone is a world class wrestler because they’re an NCAA champ.
but he easily could be with proper promotion
Even a broken clock is right two times a day.
by Chris Toffer on Jul 26, 2010 1:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Isn't Strikeforce a winner in this?
Any fighter thinking they can get momentum in Strikeforce than jump to the UFC for a big pay day just got that idea slammed in their face. Strikeforce will refuse to bid and UFC won’t shed any riches seeing they are the only bidder on the market. Seems like they gained some roster control in this process. I can tell you who the loser is in this, Jake Shields, took a much greater risk at hardly a gain in guaranteed money.
jake shields is def. the loser
He should have NOT madethose ufc appearances next to dana. He should have played the “I’m happy at strikeforce”andmade the ufc chase him while strikeforce thinkhe was easy to keep.
I dontthink it does anything for fightes jumping ship to the ufc. Its just an example not to be so damned obvious you are 100% leaving
Even a broken clock is right two times a day.
by Chris Toffer on Jul 25, 2010 7:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, but you also have to factor in that most fighters, when presented with matching offers by the UFC and Strikeforce, would prefer to be UFC fighters. There is more sponsorship money in the UFC, the perks of back room bonuses and the announced fight night bonuses, and the stability of knowing the organization isn’t going anywhere. Then, for the non-financial end of it, the intangibles like prestige and “making it the big leagues” also are a big lure for a lot of guys.
So, just because a fighter doesn’t get a bidding war from SF to make their stock go up doesn’t mean they’re more likely to just stick with SF because the UFC isn’t offering anything substantially above what they are getting at the time their SF contract runs out.
Just Blog Guy - http://JustBlogGuy.wordpress.com/
true
You also have the intangible desireof a competitor to test themselves. Shields HAD to go to the ufc quite a while ago to get a challenge outside of his own camp.
And with strikefarce there’s that problem of promotion, or lack there of. They can take a guy like jay heiron who was stoked to be signed and no problem at all fighting for SF and not the UFC, and a few fights later pissed about how he’s promotedand begging to jump ship.
Even a broken clock is right two times a day.
by Chris Toffer on Jul 25, 2010 11:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
That's what we call a Pyrrhic victory
At the expense of their champion and credibility
Cause there's only one, and that's me
You understand? for all that fighting, you understand
That sucka think he good, that sucka think he can whoop me
And i know he can't whoop me, Ay boy, the n**** whole style is chump
by S.C. Michaelson on Jul 26, 2010 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions
I want to know
Who are the people who thought there was going to be a bidding war? Jake said since EliteXC he wanted to get to the UFC for the comp. Dana didn’t get into a bidding war for Hendo after the BIsping KO, so why would they or Coker do so for Jake?
As with most UFC contracts, aren’t his payouts are just gonna increase if he wins? He’s starting off like, or better than a TUF champ.
betterfor sure
A 6 figure contract- so at least 100k a year, few fightsa year is what I assume. You always hear the whispers that its the same contract since TUF1 and not half as goodof $ today as it was then
Even a broken clock is right two times a day.
by Chris Toffer on Jul 25, 2010 11:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Last week on Martin Luther King Day
Affirmative Action hire
Cause there's only one, and that's me
You understand? for all that fighting, you understand
That sucka think he good, that sucka think he can whoop me
And i know he can't whoop me, Ay boy, the n**** whole style is chump
by S.C. Michaelson on Jul 26, 2010 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Jake shield’s got pimp slapped in a big way!!
http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/1267053424_lotionpunch.gif?w=280&h=156
Jake definitely screwed the pooch
By tipping his hand so early. But at the same time, he’s probably getting paid more than he did at Strikeforce, he’ll become a bigger celebrity, pull in more endorsement money, and have a chance to challenge GSP. So I won’t feel too bad for him.
by Jeremiah Johnson. on Jul 26, 2010 12:34 PM EDT reply actions
If he wins
If he losses his first fight out of the gate than most of the that intangible crap people keep spouting about goes to the trash heap.
very true
Butif he loses its good heonly has an 80k base, otherwise he might get werdoomed
Even a broken clock is right two times a day.
by Chris Toffer on Jul 26, 2010 1:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I changed them for the situation
Cause there's only one, and that's me
You understand? for all that fighting, you understand
That sucka think he good, that sucka think he can whoop me
And i know he can't whoop me, Ay boy, the n**** whole style is chump
by S.C. Michaelson on Jul 26, 2010 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't change them since you made that comment
They’re the same lyrics that have always been up there. I told you “I changed them for the situation” meaning I put in Dana’s name.
Cause there's only one, and that's me
You understand? for all that fighting, you understand
That sucka think he good, that sucka think he can whoop me
And i know he can't whoop me, Ay boy, the n**** whole style is chump
by S.C. Michaelson on Jul 27, 2010 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Salary database
I’m just finishing up compiling a UFC fighter salary database for my site, and it’s crazy how overpaid/underpaid certain fighters are.
by The MMA Manifesto on Jul 26, 2010 1:55 PM EDT reply actions
awesome!
Please fanpost it over hereto let us know when you are done!
Even a broken clock is right two times a day.
by Chris Toffer on Jul 26, 2010 2:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
That may be his initial pay. we do not know if his contract is progressive like some others are
Lets say his first fight is 80/80, but if he wins his second fight could be 100/100, which could be the championship fight. Now whether he wins that one, its up in the air. i just hope that jake’s dad made a smart contract.. But a progressive contract would appear logical to me.
He got less than what he would've gotten in two way negotiation
That’s my point.
Cause there's only one, and that's me
You understand? for all that fighting, you understand
That sucka think he good, that sucka think he can whoop me
And i know he can't whoop me, Ay boy, the n**** whole style is chump
by S.C. Michaelson on Jul 26, 2010 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions
says who?, Jake was never going to break the bank because he’s not enough of a name or simply important enough to either company to get more than he did.
"they mad at me, I keep going hard reppin/
cause what's your Rampage to Rashad Evans/"
-Joe Budden (Something To Ride To)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/76866807deabe3c1/
Certainly would've gotten more than 80K
Especially if Strikeforce ended up with him.
Cause there's only one, and that's me
You understand? for all that fighting, you understand
That sucka think he good, that sucka think he can whoop me
And i know he can't whoop me, Ay boy, the n**** whole style is chump
by S.C. Michaelson on Jul 28, 2010 2:05 AM EDT up reply actions
I suppose it all depends
ona bidding war or not. If strikeforce would bid up until 70k, then he probably woulda gotten 80k. If strikefarce woulda bid til 150k, then he woulda gotten 150k. UFC was going to take him no matter what- so it was up to strikefarce really, and they decided to only bid 15 bucks and a pack of natty ice
Even a broken clock is right two times a day.
by Chris Toffer on Jul 31, 2010 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
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