WSOF 3's Jacob Volkmann appreciates quick signing, says arthritis may end career

Jacob Volkmann will correct you if you say he got released from the UFC. To him, there’s no mistaking what happened after his eighth fight in the octagon, which resulted in a submission loss to Bobby Green at UFC 156.

“I got fired,” he told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio).

Volkmann (15-4), who fights Lyle Beerbohm (21-2) on Friday at World Series of Fighting 3 in Las Vegas, said he was sick the week of the Green fight and had to take medication to make it into the octagon. He did, but his typically steady endurance failed him in the later rounds of the fight.

“I was pretty upset,” he said. “They knew I was sick. They didn’t care. They just wanted me out.

Since his firing, he’s been outspoken about the UFC’s practices in the way few fighters have. He’s renewed criticism about pay and openly spoke of unionizing fighters. As of yet, he hasn’t been able to create a groundswell of support, but he’s still trying.

He again made headlines this past week when he engaged fellow WSOF fighter and recently cut UFC fighter Jon Fitch during a media teleconference for Saturday’s event.

The way Volkmann sees it, the UFC is trying to get rid of fighters who primarily fight on the ground. As a wrestler through and through, he’s one of those guys.

“They got rid of Fitch, (Aaron) Simpson, Paul Sass, all ground game fighters,” he said. “They’re catering to the knockout fans, which is fine. It’s their business.”

But then he adds: “No, it’s not fine.”

According to Volkmann, it’s not just the fighters who are getting the ax. UFC employees also are being let go en masse.

“A lot of employees got fired,” he said. “They’re just getting rid of people that started the business, and they’re hiring the lower-paid interns to take over the job.”

At the moment, Volkmann is largely defined by his opposition to the industry-leader. But he’d like to start another chapter in his career with the WSOF, which quickly signed him after his tenure with the UFC.

“They were pretty happy when I called them up,” he said. “They gave me a fight right away. It was a pretty good start. There’s little things they need to work on here and there with the organization part, and what needs to be done at what time. But other than that, they’re doing a good job. They’ve got a bunch of ex-UFC employees working for them, so they know what the routine is.”

Volkmann and Beerbohm fight on WSOF 3's main card, which airs live on NBC Sports Network. The event takes place at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

The matchup pits Volkmann’s wrestling against Beerbohm’s jiu-jitsu heavy attack, but Volkmann is convinced his opponent is struggling with weight, and like his last outing, may expire in deep waters.

“[Beerbohm's] weight was 14.4 (pounds) over last night,” he said. “He tweeted that last night. That’s too much weight to lose. Hopefully, he makes it. He’ll be gassing out in the second or third period, that’s for sure.”

Although he isn’t banking on that turn of events, Volkmann admits he’s badly in need of a win. Bills have been piling up since his firing. But he also admits he doesn’t have much time to sock away cash through his fighting career. Physical limitations are now a concern.

“Until I can’t straighten my arms,” Volkmann said when asked how long he would like to continue fighting, and straightened them to reveal noticeable bends in both. “I’m getting arthritis in my elbows, so I can’t straighten them as far as I want to.”

Of course, Volkmann also is a licensed chiropractor, so he has a way to make a living when his fight career comes to an end. There is probably one promoter in the MMA business who can’t wait to see that day come.

For the latest on WSOF 3, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

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