Just days away from his first title defense, AJ Maki He revealed exactly what Bellator MMA will require to keep him in the promotion for the long term.
The 27-year-old featherweight has quickly become one of the faces of the company owned by Paramount Global, but the two sides remain far apart when it comes to a new contract that will see him surpass his existing obligations under the champ clause in his current deal.
“They did [try to re-sign me]’ said Maki MMA watch. You’ve already fought for a million dollars in the past. I feel like I should never see anything under a million dollars again, especially with the accomplishments I have. Every time I step into that cage, there’s an “O” on my log.
“For me to look back, anything less than a million, I feel it is unreasonable. We were in like [$500K] But it’s not appetizing to me.”
According to Mackie, he will get $250,000 for his next title defense against Patricio Pitbull, which is the main event for the 277- Tahir Friday night on Showtime.
While a free agency test might be attractive, Mackie knows he still has plenty of time left with Bellator before he starts pitching from anyone else.
“There was nothing re-signed, so at the moment the tournament clause, three matches [remaining]Macy said. “Do not specify specifically [how long the contract lasts] So it’s usually about six months per fight, a year and a half [left]. A year and a half but I have other things going on outside of that, all kinds of other things.”
Mackie also indicated that he plans to separate from his current management team at Creative Artists Agency instead to start representing himself alongside his father, Antonio Mackie.
As much as he might be concerned about his value on the open market, Mackie says he’s not against staying with Bellator but the promotion needs to waive his financial demands or these next three fights could be the end for him there.
“Maybe, if we can’t get a million dollars, then yes [this could be it]Macy said. “That’s the thing too. Every time I fight, my numbers will double because I want to get my money back for fights I didn’t do. It’s work. I have families to feed.”
“I am looking forward to having children one day. This is how my dad eats. It is generation after generation. This is not a new story for us. You can’t stop me but you can slow me down a bit.”
Of course, Mackie’s announcement of his current contract with Bellator and the money he wants to earn in the future could eventually lead to the two parties breaking up.
His potential exit could then make way for a deal with the UFC, which Mackie mentioned as a potential landing site for several years even before he became a Bellator champ.
“It has always been my dream and my goal to have the Ultimate Fighting Championship title,” Mackie said. When I was a kid, I grew up watching Rampage. [Quinton Jackson]. When I was a kid in the gym, this was the first UFC belt I’d ever seen.
“Having the UFC belt one day, it will happen. It’s inevitable. It’s an achievement and a medal that I hope to have under my belt. To be a champion there too.”
Mackie has always considered himself the best featherweight in the sport even when compared to the reigning UFC champ Alexander Volkanovskywho recently came out of the fourth TKO round against “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Joong.
If he eventually leaves Bellator for the UFC, Mackie will be hoping for a fast track to the title, but the fight he actually wants isn’t what will make him a champion.
“Maybe, you get it [Michael] “Chandler’s red-carpet treatment, come on and beat someone in the top three fast and then go straight to a title fight,” Mackie said. “beats [Alexander] Volkanovski reaches real fast once but my dream is fighting [Max] Holloway. This is the dream of fighting.”
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