SACRAMENTO Anthony Birchak and Scott Jorgensen didn t fight at UFC 177 but they re getting paid anyway.
The same can t be said for Renan Barao and Henry Cejudo though.
Birchak (11 1 MMA 0 0 UFC) was slated to fight former Bellator MMA champion and fellow UFC newcomer Joe Soto (15 3 MMA 0 1 UFC) on Saturday s UFC 177 preliminary card which aired on FOX Sports 1 from Sacramento s Sleep Train Arena. Jorgensen (15 9 MMA 4 5 UFC) meanwhile was expected to fight UFC newcomer and Olympic gold medalist Cejudo (6 0 MMA 0 0 UFC). However after a frantic weigh day that saw the card shuffled both bouts fell off the lineup.
Soto was forced out of the Birchak bout and promoted to the pay per view headliner as a replacement. The UFC newcomer got a shot at UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw after Barao s weight cut went awry and forced him out of the title fight. He put up a good fight but ultimately lost via fifth round stoppage.
Jorgensen meanwhile was left without an opponent after Cejudo experienced nausea and cramping and couldn t complete his weight cut.
Barao s not making any money UFC President Dana White said (watch the full post UFC 177 media scrum below). I m not paying Barao. Barao showed up and didn t fight (and) the other kid (Cejudo) that didn t make weight. The other kids will get paid.
And that includes both the base purse ( show money ) and win bonus for Birchak and Jorgensen
Yeah of course he said.
The UFC has a history of compensating such fighters who are late scratches through no fault of their own. They get the financial security of their expected paydays and they also usually get quickly booked for an upcoming card.
As for Barao his weight cutting woes have cost him a title shot and he ll need to win at least another fight before he gets a shot to reclaim the belt.
Meanwhile Cejudo who has a history of weight cutting issues will get another shot in the UFC but he ll need to move up to bantamweight to get it according to White.
For more on UFC 177 check out the UFC Events section of the site.
(Pictured Scott Jorgensen)
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