Jared Rosholt on UFC pink slip: Hopefully my release is their loss

Recently released UFC fighter Jared Rosholt notes he made it up to No. 12 in the industry-leader’s official rankings. Not bad for a wrestler who never really learned to strike.

“If I could figure that out, I don’t see why I couldn’t beat anybody,” Rosholt told MMAjunkie Radio.

Now, the 29-year-old will test his value on the open market after a UFC stint that saw him go 6-2 in the octagon. Rosholt (14-3) got his pink slip this week after a decision loss to Roy Nelson (21-12 MMA, 8-8 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 82 in February.

Rosholt, an early member of the now-defunct Team Takedown, which funded top-tier amateur wrestlers as they transitioned to MMA, said he’s already been approached by several MMA promotions and will take meetings next week. But ultimately, he said, the winning bid will be the promotion that gives him two to three fights a year and pays the right purse.

“It’s what has the most zeroes,” he said. “When you have a family and a wife and kids and a house, you’ve got to make the money.

“I think there are promotions that are really paying well right now, or at least that’s the rumors with the new guys going to Bellator. There are good opportunities to make good money, and it’s more than what the UFC’s paying. I’m definitely into that. It’s all about the paycheck at the end of the day.”

Rosholt said he didn’t have any idea he’d be cut by the industry-leader, and he noted even before his release he’d spoke to his manager about potentially becoming a free agent.

Rosholt also was aware, however, that he’d fought several UFC bouts that were far less than exciting. What the veteran fighter wishes MMA fans knew is that many of his lackluster performances were fought under circumstances that made it difficult to perform at his best.

While Rosholt bears no ill will toward the UFC, he said it’s not his priority to fight on the regional circuit in hopes of winning another contract.

“If it happened and the offer was right, or it just seemed the right move at the time, then sure,” he said. “But as of now, I’m not thinking, man, I need to go get a couple of wins in smaller promotions or something. That’s not my thinking at all. I’m 100 percent open to the idea of having a new career started somewhere else and finishing it there, and being a company person. I believe that’s what I was for the UFC.

“I never turned down one fight. I fought with injuries when I probably should have pulled out. I don’t cheat. I don’t fail drug tests. I just do it all by the book, and that’s not all that interesting to most people, for some reason.”

Rosholt welcomed the idea of signing with the UFC’s chief competitors, including Bellator, WSOF or ONE Championship. A deal with Bellator President Scott Coker was particularly of interest given a recent spate of defections to the Viacom-owned promotion.

“I imagine he must be a really good person to work for, just by the veteran people who have fought for him and respect him,” Rosholt said. “That would be interesting to me, but I’d have no problem flying over to Asia to fight for ONE (Championship). Like I said, whoever will pay the most and at least give me two or three fights a year.

“I’m finally making some moves in my career where I can get better and get to where I want to be, and it’s just unfortunate being released from the UFC when things are really starting to align so I can get to where I need to go. Hopefully, that will just be their loss and they’ll be like, ‘We made a mistake.’”

When Rosholt starts knocking out scores of opponents, he might earn that concession.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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