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Golden Glory willing to let fighters get paid directly and offers UFC 'exclusive contract' for Alistair Overeem

Problem? What problem?

There doesn't seem to be one on Golden Glory's end, as Bas Boon today (Aug. 11) released a statement (via Fighters Only) that says any fighter who wants to compete under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) banner is free to do so -- and get paid directly in the process.

UFC President Dana White recently told media members the release of Golden Glory fighters Jon Olav Einemo and Marloes Coenen, along with Alistair and Valentijn Overeem, was due to "different business practices."

White elaborates:

"This is actually a pretty simple explanation. If you look back throughout history, we haven't had any Golden Glory guys fight with us since Semmy Schilt, right? And the reason is we have very different business practices. It's tough to do business with them. The bottom line is the way they do business is, you have to pay them, not the fighters. We don't work that way. It's not the way we do business. It's not how it works in the United States with the athletic commissions. You don't pay the managers and the managers pay the fighters. You pay the fighters and the fighters pay the managers."

Yet Boon insists his team made arrangements to allow the fighters to be paid directly and that perhaps Dana was "not well informed" of the situation.

He even goes one step further and offers the UFC an "exclusive contract" for former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem:

The Golden Glory management discussed before coming to the US about the payment situation and it was agreed to speak with a Zuffa lawyer about this in Vancouver, to find a solution.

There was a contract in place and Golden Glory and Einemo honored the UFC rules including getting the check on the fighters name (Einemo showed his check in the gym as well which was on his name and Alistair and Valentijn also confirmed their payment was done by check in their name). 

The Zuffa lawyer explained that the fighters could open an account at a bank were the UFC did their banking and the check would clear in only two days instead of 6 weeks till 8 weeks (that's how long it takes to clear a check in a foreign country which was also an issue for some of the fighters) and they could then transfer the amount to the final destination at their choice. They  were thankful and did this.

The payment was done how the UFC wanted and again we agreed and did the same as in Vancouver, so that matter was solved , so I do not understand why Dana claims we did not agree? 

We did not have a choice and never said we would not fight in the future or that we would refuse to work like this in the future (we worked out that problem with the Zuffa lawyer in the Vancouver and even agreed with their new sponsor policies).  Maybe there is a miscommunication and Dana was not well informed that the direct payment issue was solved and no longer an issue as I myself have been in and out hospital for two weeks because of heath issues ( the reason why this press release is so late).

Anyway we regret the response from Zuffa and the releases, but it is their company and they can do what they want, we would like to keep working in the future with the UFC and with this statement I clearly say that direct payment to any of our fighter was not a problem and will not be a problem in the future. 

We just want to be able to produce great fighters and create great fights for the fans, we have no intention for Co-promotion deals and are even willing to make an exclusive deal for Alistair Overeem to fight in the UFC, if the terms are right.

The swift and sudden manner in which the Golden Glory fighters were released sparked rumors that it was punishment for Alistair Overeem's failure to participate in the second leg of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix tournament due to a toe injury.

Once "Demolition Man" accepted an overseas fight just one month after his planned bout against Antonio Silva in round two, that appeared to be the last straw.

For everyone under Boon's umbrella.

Dana says he can't do business with Golden Glory. Bas says he's willing to play ball. Will these two eventually kiss and make up? Or has the bridge already been burned?

Thoughts?

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