Dana White presents the first part of his video blog leading into UFC 100. In this episode, Dana and Lorenzo have fun in the new UFC offices, while testing out the controls with the sound system.
Reports surfaced last week that UFC welterweight, Josh Koscheck, has still not signed the video game contract that caused his teammate, Jon Fitch, a speedy exit and re-entrance into the UFC just a couple of weeks back.
The contract was for the UFC to have lifetime rights for the fighters to appear in future video games made for the promotion.
The rumors were stating that Koscheck had not signed the agreement and had no intention of doing so, and he may very well exit the UFC after his fight against Yoshiyuki Yoshida on Dec 10.
MMAWeekly.com has confirmed with sources close to Koscheck that the rumors about his UFC exit are absolutely false.
According the representatives close to the fighter, he has simply chosen to wait until after his fight to address any and all situations regarding contracts because he did not want a distraction while he was in the final weeks of his training camp getting ready for the fight.
Koscheck has promised to deal with the situation when his fight is finished, but he simply did not want the distraction that would take away his focus from the upcoming fight.
UFC owner, Lorenzo Fertitta, met with representatives from Zinkin Entertainment, who work on behalf of both Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck, to resolve the situation with Fitch and sources have indicated that the conversation also included many other fighters on the company's roster regarding the video game contract.
Koscheck trains at the American Kickboxing Academy alongside Fitch and other UFC fighters such as Cain Velasquez and Christian Wellisch. All of the other fighters involved in the dispute are still with the UFC and past grievances have been settled.
All indications are pointing towards Koscheck still sticking with the UFC long after his fight on Wednesday night agianst Yoshiyuki Yoshida.
UFC welterweight Mike Swick inadvertently got caught in the middle of last week's scandal du jour when he was "exempted" from UFC president Dana White's 24-hour purge of sorts at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif.
Eventually, cooler heads prevailed, with Fitch and AKA manager "Crazy" Bob Cook brokering a deal with UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta to bring the number two ranked welterweight back--video licensing agreement signed and all.
The fate of AKA teammates Josh Koscheck, Cain Velasquez, and Christian Wellisch remains unknown, but it appears the spat has opened doors on new negotiations.
It was a jarring series of events, one you'd think would create some awkward situations in the gym. Swick shot down that idea in a recent interview with MMAInsider, saying it's going to be business as usual at AKA.
"Everyone's entitled to their own opinion and their own views, that's why this whole thing happened," Swick said. "I'm on great standing with the UFC and I'm appreciative to be where I'm at to be fighting for them. I'm not against my team, there's no animosity between us. My team and my management have always been supportive in my stance with the UFC.
"It has nothing to do with me and Fitch and Kos or anyone else. We're not against each other."
Swick says he signed the promotional agreement at the center of controversy two days before Fitch was cut, taking him out of the equation.
"No one told me that I need to go against the UFC or I need to go with them," he continued. "I make my own decisions."
Swick's next fight is against Jonathan Goulet at UFC's "Fight for the Troops" event on Dec. 10. The two have a small beef to settle; Goulet called Swick out on the internet, lighting the spark that got the fight booked. Swick is hoping above all else for a stand-up war.
But as for the drama, he's happy it's over.
"I'm appreciate of what I've achieved in my career," he said. "I've been in the sport for eleven years. I'm happy where I'm at, and I don't want to get in any kind of business that's going to go against anyone. I'm just fortunate to be living my dream, and that's all I want to focus on."
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