Jacob Volkmann (17-6) took it upon himself to slam his former employers at WSOF, citing some questionable business practices. As you might expect, WSOF Executive Vice-President Ali Abdelaziz didn’t exactly take it too kindly.
“I honestly can’t believe this guy,” Abdelaziz told MMAjunkie. “We went out of our way to take care of Jacob Volkmann, and now he’s going to talk trash about us? Unbelievable.”
Volkmann was released from the UFC following a 2013 loss to Bobby Green. He signed on with WSOF and earned a victory over Lyle Beerbohm in a slow-paced promotional debut at WSOF 3 in June 2013. He returned in October of that year and was handed a decision loss by Luiz Firmino.
After sitting idle for six months, he was granted permission from WSOF officials to fight on the regional stage and has since picked up a TKO win over Danny White at a show in North Dakota and, most recently, suffered a submission loss to T.J. O’Brien at a May event in Iowa.
Today, he took Twitter to complain about his treatment by WSOF officials.
Before signing with @MMAWorldSeries read my next few texts. @ufc @BellatorMMA
— Jacob Volkmann (@JacobVolkmann) July 12, 2014
2 days before i signed with @MMAWorldSeries i received a text from Ali, the longest distance between fights is 4-5 mo. @ufc @BellatorMMA
— Jacob Volkmann (@JacobVolkmann) July 12, 2014
My last fight with @MMAWorldSeries was october. 8 months ago! @ufc @BellatorMMA
— Jacob Volkmann (@JacobVolkmann) July 12, 2014
Sept 24 @MMAWorldSeries had an opponent for Oct but would only give it to me for $6k/$6k and my contract was $9k/$9k or no fight. @ufc
— Jacob Volkmann (@JacobVolkmann) July 12, 2014
Then @MMAWorldSeries said if i fight for $6k/$6k Oct i would also get Jan, but went back on that. @ufc @BellatorMMA
— Jacob Volkmann (@JacobVolkmann) July 12, 2014
So far that was all from Ali. @MMAWorldSeries @ufc @BellatorMMA
— Jacob Volkmann (@JacobVolkmann) July 12, 2014
On Nov 1, shawn said i would fight Jan, but would only do $6k/$6k when my contract was $9k/$9k. @MMAWorldSeries @ufc @BellatorMMA
— Jacob Volkmann (@JacobVolkmann) July 12, 2014
Shawn kept saying he would get me someone for Jan, until Jan 13. NO OPPONENT! @MMAWorldSeries @ufc @BellatorMMA
— Jacob Volkmann (@JacobVolkmann) July 12, 2014
Shawn felt bad about situation, and gave me $3k for no opponent on Jan 18. @MMAWorldSeries @ufc @BellatorMMA
— Jacob Volkmann (@JacobVolkmann) July 12, 2014
Time for fighters to unite/unionize. @ufc @MMAWorldSeries @BellatorMMA
— Jacob Volkmann (@JacobVolkmann) July 12, 2014
Abdelaziz was quick to respond on the social media platform and said that Volkmann should have no complaints, as he is no longer tied to the Las Vegas-based promotion.
@JacobVolkmann wsof give you 3 fights i11 months we give you extra money on the side to take care of your family you are no longer with wsof
— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) July 12, 2014
@JacobVolkmann wsof released to fight TJ O Brian he finished you in a small show wsof have no interest good luck with your career
— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) July 12, 2014
MMAjunkie spoke with Volkmann’s manager, Monte Cox, who indicated WSOF officials had been easy to work with when his fighter requested the two regional fights. However, he said the promotion had not provided an official release letter, which is typical for such situations, and instead had generally received emails or verbal confirmation from Abdelaziz and his team when requesting bouts outside the promotion.
Cox said Volkmann was currently entertaining offers from a handful of promotions, including Bellator MMA, but that those organizations were hesitant to tender a contract without a formal letter confirming his client’s release from WSOF.
Abdelaziz said the company would be happy to provide such a form and wishes Volkmann would have simply asked for what he needed rather than take to Twitter to start a war of words the WSOF exec deemed unnecessary.
“This entire situation is ridiculous,” Abdelaziz said. “We went out of out way to give Jacob Volkmann money without even fighting. And now he’s attacking us on Twitter? If he needs a release letter, call me and ask for a release letter. I let him take those other two fights, no problem, and after he lost to T.J. O’Brien, I told him we didn’t need him anymore. He knew I was releasing him. It drives me crazy to think about how we went out of our way to help him, and now he wants to attack us and tarnish our reputation.
“Jacob Volkmann started all of this propaganda because he wants to go to Bellator. He can go to Bellator. They can have all of our rejects.”
For more on WSOF’s upcoming schedule, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.
(Pictured: Ali Abdelaziz)
view original article >>