Jon Fitch and Christian Wellisch have been released by the UFC, with more cuts possible over the next few days.

The news came late on Wednesday after a fallout between the UFC and Zinkin Entertainment, who represent a number of UFC fighters from the American Kickboxing Academy, over merchandising rights, including use of fighters’ likenesses in THQ’s upcoming UFC video game.

Fitch told Hardcore Sports Radio’s Sports Rage on Wednesday that he was dumped by the UFC after refusing to sign an agreement that would have relinquished his likeness rights for the video game.

Fitch also said he had signed an agreement on Tuesday to fight Akihiro Gono at UFC 94 on January 31, only for the UFC to terminate that agreement, along with his promotional contract.

“I had two fights left on my contract, but they always put a clause in the contract that if you lose a fight, they’re able to release you at any time after a loss,” said Fitch.

“That’s pretty standard with any organization, but it’s pretty incredible that they’d go to those lengths for something like this, over a video game.”

Fitch, who went five rounds with UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre in August, said his refusal to sign the video game agreement for wasn’t based on compensation.

“The video game agreement that they have that they wanted us to sign was basically we don‘t get anything for it,” he continued. “We get free publicity and promotion from the game, which is great, no problem.

“The problem is it’s a lifetime exclusive contract. That means we would never ever be able to work with any video game companies other than the one the UFC provides.”

Fitch also said the major problem was the way the contract was presented to his management team rather than the contract itself.

He added: “They basically kicked the door open, guns blazing, pointed it in our face and said, ‘Sign this or you’re going to pay’.”

Dana White said late on Wednesday that the UFC would no longer be working with Fitch’s American Kickboxing Academy based out of San Jose, CA.

“We’re looking for guys who want to work with us and not against us, and frankly I’m just so [expletive] sick of this [expletive] it’s not even funny,” said White, who is in Honolulu to hold a news conference to announce the B.J. Penn-Georges St. Pierre fight for UFC 94.

“Affliction is still out there trying to build its company. Let [Fitch] go work with them. Let him see what he thinks of those [expletives]. [Expletive] him. These guys aren’t partners with us. [Expletive] them. All of them, every last [expletive] one of them.”

Fitch also revealed that an Academy team-mate of his in San Jose, Christian Wellisch, was also released on Wednesday.

“They cut him from the organisation first, I think as kind of a scare for me and [Josh] Koscheck and Cain [Velasquez],” said Fitch. “I guess Cain Velasquez wouldn’t sign under his contract and they we’re saying that after his fight he was done and they weren’t going to re-up his contract.

“I think the same thing goes for Koscheck. I think they would drop him right now too, if he wasn’t fighting on the 10th, if he wasn’t headlining that show — so they can’t drop him.”

Koscheck faces Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC “Fight for the Troops” on December 10 in Fayetteville, NC. A loss may well result in him being given his marching orders by White.

Velasquez, currently out injured, has two fights left on his contract. Should a deal not be agreed between the UFC and Zinkin, he may also be cut.

Fitch estimates his exit from the UFC will cost him up to 80 per cent of his sponsorship income.

Phil Lowe
phil@ifight365.com