Lorenz Larkin has interest from UFC, Bellator and Rizin FF, but no offer yet

Veteran welterweight Lorenz Larkin said his management team is courting interest from three MMA promotions – UFC, Bellator and Rizin FF – after he entered free agency.

But as of yet, Larkin told MMAjunkie Radio, he hasn’t received any formal offers with dollar signs attached.

“I was hoping after I was able to talk to promotions, it would wrap up in a week, but I’m really thinking two weeks,” he said Monday. “Two weeks from now, I’m thinking I should have something.”

Larkin (18-5 MMA, 5-5 UFC), the No. 10 ranked fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, opted to test the market rather than resign with the UFC after the industry-leader submitted a renewal offer he considered “ridiculous.” He faced Neil Magny (18-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) in his final contractual obligation in August at the blockbuster UFC 202 and picked up a first-round TKO.

A short-notice replacement for Dong Hyun Kim, Larkin said he took the matchup with a bad taste in his mouth after the UFC told him he could fight out his contract if he didn’t want to re-sign.

“I was thinking, you know what? They’re betting against you right now,” he said. “Take this fight, you’ll lose, and we’ll come back with a lower offer, and we’ve pretty much got you by the balls.”

Larkin won, of course, which he expects should up his value when he receives a contract offer. When will that arrive? His team is working on it.

The Strikeforce and UFC veteran has seen strong offers coming from overseas in Rizin FF, but he said the next deal he signs should be more than a simple fight contract for the right money.

“I want to work,” Larkin said. “I don’t want to just fight. I would like to be active in the company that I’m employed by, and that was one of my big things coming into this free agency that was a problem for me. I want to do things that put me closer to fans. That’s another thing that would have to be on that contract.”

Although the UFC is in the process of shedding behind-the-scenes jobs, cutting office staff and fighter consultants in the wake of its sale to WME-IMG, Larkin welcomes a position that allows him to stay more visible. Thus far, he’s carved out a fairly lengthy career as an explosive striker. But he hasn’t enjoyed the same recognition as others who’ve been more outspoken in and out of the cage.

For now, Larkin is just trying to be patient as he waits for the next chapter of his career to unfold.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” he said. “It’s just the time frame of everything. I hope I can get it wrapped up (by the holidays), as long as I know these certain people are going to throw offers.”

For more on UFC 202, check out the UFC Events section of MMAjunkie.

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