Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

'Go Get Your F*cking Money' - Luke Rockhold Explains Why Fighters Should Test Free Agency

Originally posted on MMA News | By Kyle Dimond | Last updated 8/30/23

In recent times, more top stars have departed that UFC than ever before to test the free agency market and fight for their perceived worth.

The likes of Nate Diaz and Francis Ngannou have both successfully left the promotion and gone on to secure huge boxing contests against Jake Paul and Tyson Fury.

Whilst he may not have had the same level of marquee match-up, former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has also been scoping out the playing field.

In January this year, Rockhold announced on The MMA Hour that he had been granted his release from the UFC, a rare occurrence considering he had several fights left on his deal.

Since then, he has competed in a bare knuckle boxing contest with Mike Perry and is set to grapple Craig Jones in Jerusalem on September 21.

Though his relationship with the UFC won't be the same as for most fighters, Rockhold used Diaz and Ngannou as examples of why others should follow suit during an interview with Chamatkar Sandhu.

"Like anything in life, if you work hard enough and you put your mind to it and your body and everything into play, it's going to come to fruition. Francis did it, everyone thought that both of them, Nate and Francis, were late to the party specifically I mean a lot of people thought but they both got huge fights and they both got paydays."

Luke Rockhold Urges Fighters To Bet On Themselves In Entering Free Agency

For a lot of fighters, the dream of competing in the UFC at the highest level of competition will be the biggest factor in determining where they will spend their careers.

Though there is potentially more money to be made for fighters who are currently signed to the promotion, leaving the Octagon without a guaranteed paycheck can be a daunting step.

During his appearance on Smack Talk With Sandhu, Rockhold encouraged fighters who have put the work in to build their names already to trust in the profiles they have already created for themselves.

In taking that status and the hard work that got you to that point and taking it into free agency with you, Rockhold says that athletes need to bet on themselves in their careers.

"Go get your f*cking money man, if you've done it and you've built the star power four yourself and you want it enough to where you're in that position, put your f*cking balls on the table and get to work"

Please provide transcription credit with a link to this article if you use any of these quotes.

This article first appeared on MMA News and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: