Elias Theodorou Claims 'No Ill Will' Towards UFC Over His Release

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC on ESPN+ live on your computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

Advertisement

The UFC’s decision to release middleweight Elias Theodorou after his decision loss to Derek Brunson last month turned a few heads, considering the Canadian held a UFC record of 8-3 and had won three of his last four fights.

It has long been known that UFC President Dana White prefers exciting fighters who want to finish fights and the decision to cut Theodorou was rumored to be related to his fighting style, as his last eight fights have gone the distance.

Theodorou maintains he doesn’t hold a grudge against the UFC for releasing him and told MMA Junkie that he is focusing on the positives during his time in the promotion, including the fact that he still has his health.

“I have no ill will toward the UFC,” Theodorou said. “I don’t think being upset about it does anyone good. Especially myself. I don’t want to burn any bridges, but I also want to look at it in the positive aspects where I’m happy and healthy, and I’ve been successful in 20 of my professional times.”

Theodorou said he believes the decision to release him was a business decision as the UFC knew they could bring in multiple younger fighters with what he was making.

“The UFC does have 600 athletes,” Theodorou said. “I think they just looked at what I was making now being 8-3 in the UFC, the five or seven Canadian fighters they recently added, they probably can pay every single one of their paychecks with my paycheck.

“I think the surprise – I think it kind of speaks to what my value is as a martial artist, and the people that know me inside the cage and out. I’m excited for the next step in my career and make myself undeniable, wherever that is.”

The 31-year-old, who maintains a diverse portfolio of pursuits including acting roles and a job as "ring boy" for all-female promotion Invicta FC, said he has had interest from other organizations and claims he could be earning as much somewhere else now that he is no longer subject to the UFC’s restrictive sponsor policy.

“There are many organizations that have already reached out that pretty much pay what the UFC pays in some capacity,” Theodorou said. “And now with the avenue of having sponsors potentially involved, there are avenues I could make the same money as a UFC fighter elsewhere.”