Sports · Combat Sports · 3 hrs ago
Stevie Ray says rising UFC pay helped lead to his 2020 exit
Scottish fighter Stevie Ray says the UFC pushed him out in 2020 after he signed a new four-fight deal.
Ray had beaten Michael Johnson in October 2019, but says he never earned money from the new contract.
He says the UFC booked him for a Las Vegas fight despite visa problems, then raised concerns about his knee injuries.
Ray believes his injuries and higher pay both played a part in the promotion’s decision, though he presents this as his own view.
After leaving, he fought seven more times in mixed martial arts and reached the PFL lightweight tournament final in 2022.
Ray is now set to make his bare-knuckle debut with BKFC in Glasgow, seven years after his last UFC fight.
He says the BKFC appearance will not be a one-off and has not ruled out more MMA fights.
Stevie Ray says rising pay under a new UFC contract may have contributed to his 2020 departure from the promotion.
Ray says the UFC raised his knee injuries as a reason to part ways, although he did not want to leave.
He says his manager warned him that the UFC would cut him if he did not become a free agent.
Ray later fought seven more times in MMA after signing with the PFL, reaching its lightweight tournament final in 2022.
He is set to make his bare-knuckle debut at BKFC’s Glasgow event.
- Who
- Stevie Ray, a Scottish fighter and former UFC competitor.
- What
- Ray says he believes the UFC’s rising pay under his new deal was one factor in his 2020 exit.
- When
- He left the UFC in 2020.
- Where
- The UFC fight he recalls being booked for was in Las Vegas. His upcoming BKFC debut is in Glasgow.
- Why
- Ray believes his higher contract pay, age and knee injuries may have influenced the UFC’s decision. He says the promotion cited his knee issues.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ray defeated Michael Johnson in a UFC co-main event and signed a new four-fight deal.
Ray left the UFC without receiving money from the contract extension.
Ray reached the PFL lightweight tournament final after beating Anthony Pettis twice.
Ray was scheduled to make his bare-knuckle debut at BKFC’s Glasgow event that Saturday.
- New UFC deal
- Four fights
- UFC win
- Michael Johnson, October 2019
- UFC departure
- 2020
- PFL tournament
- Lightweight final, 2022
- Upcoming debut
- BKFC, Glasgow
What people are saying
They kind of forced me to go as a free agent
I had no choice.
I think I was starting to get expensive.
My contract was going up, they were paying me good money