Heath Herring talks about his UFC contract status
The last time heavyweight fighter Heath Herring fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championship was August 2008. Herring’s opponent in that bout was Brock Lesnar. Lesnar won the fight by
unanimous decision, breaking Herring’s orbital bone in the process. Herring recently spoke to Sherdog.com about his long absence from mixed martial arts.
“I’m kind of in a weird deal with the UFC right now,” Herring stated. “Supposedly I’m free and clear, but the UFC is able to match any offer I get for a year. I’ve had some offers, but
I’m not sure if the UFC would let me sign somewhere else.”
Herring said that the UFC had offered him fights while he was under contract, but that it was “tough” to accept the fights on the terms offered, “The UFC would do things like ask me to
fight overseas but then pay for one hotel room for me and my coaching staff. If I’m having to pay for hotel rooms, and they’re making as much money as they are on pay-per-views, it’s just not financially worthwhile for me to take that fight.”
Herring, who has a career MMA record of 28-14, has not been sitting idle while he waits for the situation to resolve itself. He has been working at establishing a movie career, conducting
MMA seminars and travelling overseas to work with the United States troops in Iraq.
Herring’s heart remains with the fight game, “I definitely miss fighting. I didn’t know anything else for 14 years, and everything I have comes from mixed martial arts. This isn’t what
I’m used to doing. Sometimes it gets me down.”
Herring seems to have no interest in fighting for the UFC again, but instead seems content to wait until he is free from any ties the organization. Until that time comes Herring says,
“I know I’ll be doing more seminars, and I might be going to Korea to work with the troops there. I like working with the troops and working with young people.”
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