Cosmo Alexandre explains his decision to remain with ONE Championship.
Earlier in the summer, it appeared that the newcomer would be leaving the promotion as Cosmo aired his grievances publicly regarding the Japanese promotion. The 38-year-old hasn't fought since his knockout win over former UFC star Sage Northcutt in May 2019.
However, a nice talk with CEO Chatri Sityodtong and senior vice-president Matt Hume changed things for the veteran and now, both sides have come to terms on a new six-fight deal. So why did Alexandre choose ONE over places like Bellator MMA and UFC? It was a safer bet financially to stick with the company then make the transition over to an American promotion:
“After my fight against Sage, we started talking about my contract – so it was a long talk,” Alexandre told MMA Junkie. “(It was) kind of like a long fight. But in the end now, I talked straight with (ONE chairman) Chatri (Sityotong), and I think it was better for me. A lot of people talk about UFC and other shows here in the U.S., but for me I see ONE Championship is safe for me.
“It’s safer for my family. I’m 38. I don’t want to fight until like 43, 44. I just want to fight a few more years and looking at it this way, it’s safer for me to stay in ONE Championship.”
Being 38, Alexandre doesn’t intend to keep fighting for long, thus financially it made sense for him to remain with ONE Championship. The welterweight details the contract differences between ONE and their U.S. competitors:
“Financial, because I made a deal – six fights – so I know I’m going to fight the six fights. So it doesn’t matter what happens in my last five fights,” Alexandre said. “If I fight five and for some reason I lose the five, I will still fight in my sixth fight.
“Any other show in the U.S., probably you can’t do it. Like UFC, if you sign a four-fight deal, if you lose the first two, maybe you fight a third, but probably they will cut you, so you won’t fight your fourth. So for me, that’s what I was thinking. So for me it’s safer to stay in ONE Championship.”