The UFC are believed to have let go in the region of another 10-15 employees this week, with two legendary ex-fighters Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes being the most high-profile names heading for the exit door.
Following their hall-of-fame careers in the sport, the two former champions had both been given jobs within the company, with Hughes taking on a role as Vice President of Athlete Development and Government Relations, while Liddell Executive Vice President of Business Development.
“The UFC has been great to me,” Hughes told MMA Fighting after the news broke. “Times change, and I understand the decision that was made. I will move on. My family and I are fine.
“I do love adventure, and who knows what’s next for me.”
Since buying the company over the summer, the UFC’s new owners WME-IMG have steadily began implementing cost-cutting procedures that includes in the region of 80-100 employees now having lost their jobs across all the UFC’s offices around the globe.
Investor documents after the sale had hinted that figurehead positions such as those held by Liddell and Hughes were likely, though at this stage it’s not clear whether other UFC legends on the payroll like Forrest Griffin and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will also lose their ambassador roles within the organization.
