The Brenneman-Noke bout will now be on the undercard for UFC 152 in Toronto on Sept. 22. Jones will headline that event with a title fight against challenger Vitor Belfort. Cruickshank said he’s waiting to hear when he’ll fight next.
The fighters aren’t just going without a purse and any bonuses they would earn, but they are also forgoing sponsorship money.
“I’m not one of those fighters that gets a paycheck every month (from a sponsor),” Cruickshank said. “As a fighter, you are a walking billboard. If you don’t fight, you don’t get that money. All (the sponsors) can say is, ‘Sorry about that. Better luck next time.’”
Of course, Sonnen told FOXSports.com that there was no reason to make those guys wait for any kind of paycheck.
“I don’t need to fight next Saturday,” Sonnen said. “I have plenty of money, plenty of titles and I have been on TV plenty of times. Some of those guys (on the undercard) haven’t had those chances. I was willing to do my part to see those sponsors and those fighters get the opportunity. This means keeping the lights on for some of them. It’s that serious.”
