Jacob “Stitch” Duran is out of a job simply because he spoke his mind.
The UFC may have cancelled out all the great PR from the hugely successful UFC 189 event after sacking one of the best cutmen in the game.
@InMyMMAOpinion Brother, I lost everything regarding sponsors from pay to a nice vest!
Now I have no fees and a generic vest.— Jacob Stitch Duran (@StitchDuran) July 13, 2015
Jacob “Stitch” Duran spoke out about losing his sponsors due to the highly controversial Reebok deal. One day later, he was fired from the UFC.
Duran confirmed that he lost his job over comments he made in a Bloody Elbow interview that was published Monday. The widely respected MMA cutman told the site that he stands to lose a lot of income since the UFC’s contract with Reebok does not include cutmen and that he may turn to boxing as a result
“It’s a solid shot. I got paid on a monthly basis so it definitely added up. I made really good money on that sponsorship so it’s kind of a shocker to transition.”
One day after the interview, Duran lost his job at the promotion. He initially broke the news on Twitter.
@InMyMMAOpinion Brother, I lost everything regarding sponsors from pay to a nice vest!
Now I have no fees and a generic vest.— Jacob Stitch Duran (@StitchDuran) July 13, 2015
@daej81 You will be the first to know that the UFC just let me go because I spoke out about the Reebok deal. Got to look for a new job!
— Jacob Stitch Duran (@StitchDuran) July 21, 2015
Duran told MMA Fighting that he will not be out of work in life after UFC. In fact, he recently signed a deal to work with Andre Berto for his fight with Floyd Mayweather in September.
However, he revealed that he will sorely miss the fighters and was extremely disappointed over the manner in which the promotion dealt with his sacking.
“It’s not like I’m going to lack any type of work. It’s just that I really enjoyed working with the fighters and the people in the UFC. To get a nut shot by Dana in him not calling me and having the balls to call me, it just showed me the kind of characters that I was dealing with.”
The firing of Duran was met with a lot of backlash from the fighters, some of which aired their grievances on Twitter.
Sooo disappointed to hear about @StitchDuran !! He's the man and was my go to guy. Wrapped me for all my championship fights!
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) July 22, 2015
Soooo we the fighters are assed out because @StitchDuran spoke his mind? Smfh when one door closes another opens. Much respect to you Stitch
— Rumble Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) July 22, 2015
@StitchDuran it was always a honor sharing the cage with you God bless you and your family. #willbemissed
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) July 22, 2015
There is only one man I want wrapping my hands and handling my corner in the @ufc That is @StitchDuran best cut-man in the business.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 22, 2015
Hey @StitchDuran THANK YOU for not being afraid to speak the TRUTH. And THANKS for helping to keep ME in my fights. @UFC AND @Reebok yikes.
— Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) July 22, 2015
@StitchDuran @daej81 Talk about a shit sandwich.
— patmiletich (@patmiletich) July 22, 2015
Is there more to this story on Stitch? Bc my boy was that guy! Wrapped hands like a boss and one of the best at his job.
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) July 22, 2015
@StitchDuran sad to see you go brother. My favourite hand wrapper !!!
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) July 21, 2015
Nooooo not Stitch, that was my guy! 😢
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) July 22, 2015
Losing their soul https://t.co/sWdtLadTh5
— Funky (@Benaskren) July 22, 2015
I'm always behind, but just heard about Stitch. Don't have a bad thing to say about him. Hope he's back keeping us fighters healthy, soon!
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 22, 2015
Thats messed up, having an opinion now gets you fired. He should of blamed it on the coco so he could keep his… http://t.co/REgdVlmTPR
— Miguel Angel Torres (@MiguelTorresMMA) July 22, 2015
https://twitter.com/peggymorganmma/status/623659734344798208
