Michael Imperato fulfilled every mixed martial artists dream when he signed for the UFC. Unfortunately for the Canadian, he was cut from the promotion less than a day after signing the contract.
Imperato was a castmember on MMA documentary series Fight Xchange last year and he made some racist and homophobic slurs on the show. In one episode of the show, Imperato referred to another fighter as a ‘n****r’ and a ‘f****t’.
The fighter released a statement several months after the series aired, apologising for the derogatory language he used.
I have used racist words when I was mad, not to be racist just to make people mad in an argument or heat of the moment. I never realized how stupid I sounded or how much I effected others. I have recently realized where these words have come from and I regret using them. I also apologize to any one who was hurt by my comments.
The world is changing fast and can be pretty crazy. Laws are being changed and some people agree and others don’t. I believe that everyone should be able to live in what ever way makes them happy. I am not against any religion or any gay male or female.
The controversial fighter was signed for the UFC last week, which caused outrage among the MMA community. Imperato was due to make his promotional debut against Aljamain Sterling at UFC Fight Night 55 in Sydney on November 8 before being axed.
Fans sent tweets to Dana White and UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby expressing their vitriol at the promotion’s signing of Imperato, which prompted them to release the Canadian less than a day after initially signing him.
F***** n***** @ufc just signed a racist Blevel fighter @ImperatoMMA. @seanshelby @danawhite @Sportsnet @arielhelwani http://t.co/TRvY5Z7XTD
— Lyndon Whitlock (@lyndonwhitlock) October 26, 2014
https://twitter.com/YoNeath/status/526425798698610688
Imperato confirmed his release from the world’s largest MMA promotion in a lengthy post on his Facebook profile.
Thank you to everyone for their support and interest in my career. Unfortunately I have made some decisions in life years ago that are now affecting me. Thanks to a reality show that I was in where I made some stupid comments and of course people being jealous, I have just got my contract to the UFC cancelled.
The bantamweight seemed resentful of having his dream taken away from him and even hinted that his dismissal from the promotion can be attributed to jealousy from his ‘haters’.
To everyone that knows me personally I have nothing to explain, I have always been open hearted and would do anything to help anyone. I have never had weapons, drugs, never raped anyone, never killed anyone I bent over backwards for more people then I can count.
At the end of the day, when people are jealous or are hating on you for your success they will do anything to bring you down. I spent 9 years working on my dream and when it finally came to reality it blew up.
The UFC might want to reevaluate their vetting process for signing fighters to avoid another embarrassment like this in the future.
Hat-tip to MMA News
