World Series of Fighting welterweight Josh Burkman had an impressive knockout victory last Saturday night in Las Vegas, but the talk around the fighter is what he tweeted on Thursday and what he told Fansided.com.
Burkman was asked a question from a fan about Jon Fitch getting the next title shot in the welterweight division. Burkman responded by saying he is not interested in the World Series of Fighting title and wants to be release due to a contract situation.
@bigfish042 I don’t want WSOF’s belt.
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) April 3, 2014
@bigfish042 I feel they did me wrong contractually. I asked to be released.
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) April 3, 2014
I can’t work on going anywhere else unless #WSOF releases me. If so, we will start fresh somewhere else…
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) April 3, 2014
Former UFC and current Titan FC light heavyweight Vinny Magalhaes would jump into the conversation, and decided to bring up World Series of Fighting Executive Vice President and matchmaker Ali Abdel-Aziz.
@VinnyMMA couldn’t have said it better myself. — Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) April 3, 2014
Following his tweets, Burkman spoke to Fansided.com about his situation and explained that it had to do with a contract situation. Burkman feels that he needs to stand up about the situation so it doesn’t happen to anyone else. After a couple of hours passed from when Burkman made his comments online, Abdel-Aziz addressed the situation on Twitter and gave his side to the story.
@MMAWorldSeries gave Josh Burkman 5 fights in 16 months, made more $ than any other fighter we have, bent over backwards for him. — Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) April 4, 2014
I don’t know why all this bashing all of a sudden about me and WSOF? It’s all good though. — Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) April 4, 2014
World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo is currently in Japan on business and he responded to Burkman, who then responded to say he has nothing but love for him.
@JoshBurkman we spoke briefly 2 minutes before my flight took off you express that you couldn’t work with one individual not @MMAWorldSeries — Ray Sefo (@SugarRaySefo) April 4, 2014
@JoshBurkman @MMAWorldSeries has been good to you and you know this my friend, one individual’s action doesn’t speak for WSOF… — Ray Sefo (@SugarRaySefo) April 4, 2014
I have nothing but love for you @SugarRaySefo you said if a fighter was unhappy you would release them. Guess it’s not that simple my friend
— Joshua Burkman (@JoshBurkman) April 4, 2014
What is your take on this developing story with Burkman, Abdel-Aziz, Sefo, and the World Series of Fighting? Leave your comments below and they will be read on tomorrow’s edition of “The MMA Report Podcast.”