Despite reconciliation with Yair Rodriguez, Dana White says more fighters will be cut for turning down fights

Last month, the UFC caused a tidal wave of controversy by cutting highly-regarded featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez, citing the fact that he had allegedly turned down consecutive fights with Ricardo Lamas and Zabit Magomedsharipov as the reason.

In the end, of course, Rodriguez and the UFC were able to patch things up, and the Mexican featherweight is now expected to battle Magomedsharipov at UFC 228 this September. All the same, UFC President Dana White assures that, should any other fighters turn down multiple bout offers in the future, they can expect similar treatment.

“You’re going to see more of it,” White said on the latest episode of the UFC Unfiltered podcast. “There’s more coming today. I’m not fucking around anymore here. If you don’t want to fight, then don’t sign here.”

“You’re [in the UFC] to fight, you’re here to become a world champion,” White continued. “If that’s not what you’re here for, this is not the place for you. You know, many other places, they’re paying guys great money out there right now, and a lot of times you can get more money than you’re making [in the UFC]. Knock yourself out, cause that’s where you belong, you don’t belong here.”

While White stands by the rationale that led to Rodriguez’s “release” he also divulged that he didn’t have a whole lot of interaction with Rodriguez throughout the ordeal. Instead, Rodriguez dealt primarily with matchmaker Sean Shelby. White expects to meet with with Rodriguez this week.

“I don’t know the whole story, I don’t know what happened,” White said. “I have a meeting with him today. So he and I are meeting today, and I’m sure I’ll get the full story. You know, Sean Shelby was dealing with him.”

Yair Rodriguez has not fought since May of 2017, when he was battered to a doctor stoppage by Frankie Edgar.

What do you think of Dana White’s latest comments on the Yair Rodriguez situation?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 6/5/2018.