Joanne Calderwood “shocked” by UFC’s refusal to give her a ticket to UFC 206

Scotland’s Joanne Calderwood, who currently holds the number seven spot in the UFC strawweight rankings, has recently made a home at Montreal’s TriStar gym. As such, she had plans to attend UFC 206 in nearby Toronto, where many of her teammates are fighting.

Given her status as one of the best strawweight fighters on earth, Calderwood was under the impression that she might get her hands on a complimentary ticket for the Toronto card. Apparently, however, this will not be the case.

When Calderwood inquired about a ticket to UFC 206, she received a rather abrupt response from the UFC’s Senior Director of Event Development, Ryan McCarthy. The Scottish strawweight shared a screen cap of her exchange with McCarthy on her official Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/246933942099184/photos/a.247293922063186.58072.246933942099184/1043242072468363/?type=1&theater

“Are fighters not getting complimentary tickets any more?” Calderwood asked McCarthy. 

“Fighters on the card get tickets and guest fighter get tickets,” McCarthy replied. “If a fighter is just coming, then they will need to purchase, unless Dana approves the comps.” 

Along with the screen cap she shared, Calderwood issued a short statement on her disappointment with the UFC. It reads as follows:

“I don’t ask for much and I know this is a very selfish sport when it comes down to giving your time and attention esp if you are serious about being a high level professional fighter…as a fighter I know we don’t get a lot back and it’s never an easy road, we sacrifice a lot and most of the time we are broke. I’m eating into my savings just to pay for myself to get better as a fighter so I can win and put on better fights. Right now I’m recovering from a minor concussion and to know it could put my next pay day back further is scary, not to mention I don’t even know when my next fight is going to get offered to me. I’m lucky for the support around me cause Ive been really down the past week with having to take time out of training and it’s tough not knowing what’s around the corner. But anyway I’ve been really looking forward to making the trip to Toronto next week to support some of the guys from Tristar, after emailing the UFC to request tickets, I’m still a little shocked after receiving this….to say I’m upset is an understatement.”

Do you think the UFC should have given the fan favorite strawweight a ticket to UFC 206? Sound off, PENN Nation!