The winner of the ACA lightweight grand prix, Eduard Vartanian, who not so long ago enthusiastically talked about negotiations with the UFC, lowers the probability that he will be able to sign a contract with the world’s strongest league.
“I’m here, I’m ready to come out, but they don’t want to sign a contract with me,” the Russian said in an interview with the channel “Ushataika”. “Because all my past, which was in Russia, doesn’t play any role here. Not to say I didn’t know it.”
“Here is America, you can have a 7-3 or 5-2 record, you’ve fought here and you’re going to be interesting. What you had outside of the U.S. territory, it doesn’t matter at all. You could probably get a fight somewhere on the side, or Contender Series, but I’m not going for that. At this point, I’m estimating a 10% chance of signing in the UFC”
Vartanian, meanwhile, claims that he has no financial conditions and that he is willing to make his UFC debut as a rookie receiving a minimal fee.
“I don’t have any financial conditions – they don’t even want to sign me as a rookie. As far as I’m concerned, it’s all down to the head matchmaker, Sean Shelby. He’s already gotten a lot of calls, and he’s probably tired of hearing about me. I keep training, I’m ready to step in as a replacement at both lightweight and welterweight. I will be in America for two more months – I gave myself time until February”
In June of this year, 32-year-old Eduard Vartanian extended his winning streak to eight fights, finishing Kazakhstan’s Artem Reznikov by technical knockout in the third round in the final match of the grand prix. On his way to the finals, “Lionheart” earned early victories over South African Alain Ilunga and his compatriot Yusuf Raissov.
Source: https://fighttime.ru/news/item/33305-eduard-vartanyan-poluchil-otkaz-ot-ufc.html?rand=19907
