Myles Jury won’t be returning to the UFC anytime soon.
Now competing in Bellator MMA, Jury fought in the UFC for six years and during that time span, the lightweight beat top tier fighters such as Michael Johnson and Diego Sanchez; however, the most draining experience during his time in the organization is UFC’s control over his career:
“For Bellator, the main difference is control,” Jury said to MMA Junkie. “The UFC are control freaks. They like to control everything from what you wear to when you show up to fight week to how you basically present yourself. If you’re saying bad things, you’re going to get cut. Basically, they just love to control.
“For Bellator it’s a little more relaxed. They let you come in and do your own thing. They just want you to show up, go out there, and fight well. There’s no crazy fight week stuff. It’s just very more relaxed at Bellator. I like that, man, because I’m a fighter.”
Jury continued to vent his frustration over the environment backstage in the UFC and makes it clear that the big company has too much of a tight grip over their fighters:
“I’m a fighter,” Jury said. “I don’t work in an office. I don’t like people telling me what I need to wear, coming backstage telling me, ‘You’re doing this at this time.’ Basically, treat me like an employee, man. I’m a fighter. I’m the product. When I go out there and fight, I’m the man. I’m the one going out there doing it. I don’t care what the cameraman says or what time they think we need to be ready and all this. I don’t want to hear any of that. I’m a product. I’m the one going out there and putting on the show – me and my fellow fighters.”