Top South African MMA promotion EFC revealed today that UK based South African Fraser Opie had been removed from the main card of EFC 34 on Oct. 2 where he was set to face Pete Motaung in Johannesburg.
Despite the promotion having not provided a fight contract until a week from the event, the majority of the bust up appears to be over travel arrangements according to Opie. While the promotion seem to have refused a previously agreed direct flight for their competitor, the agreement appears to have fallen through with EFC only willing to provide indirect flights with a connecting flight that would greatly increase the over all travel time which Opie suggested is simply not possible due to his demanding weight cut – a science that he feels EFC do not appreciate.
While EFC appear to have terminated Opie’s stint in the promotion with an authoritative stamp and public display via social media, the situation turns bizarre with the fighter claiming that EFC officials are yet to inform him directly, and have in fact apologized for making a mistake.
EFC Worldwide broke the news via Twitter with a series of malicious tweets however, the light-heavyweight fighter, who has regularly been updating fight fans on his camp progress at Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand, explained the bust up via Facebook.
“I will post the email trail of how they didn’t give me a fight contract until a week out. We have agreed numerous times about direct flight face to face, myself and Graham. And it’s not just a 2 hour stop over, it’s over 19-20 hours compared to 9 . They tried their luck to get the cheap way out . If they had just payed the extra £150 pounds [roughly 2750 South African Rand] on a direct flight non of this would happen. I have never asked for money back for blood tests ……. I was entitled to R3000 ( 3 blood tests ) for that I never asked for accommodation in Cape Town, that’s another R3000 odd saving. I do a big weight cut and that is why I need the direct flight . I have to water load, can’t eat anything on the planes, it’s full of salt, etc, can’t take food onto the plane, it’s a science that Ciaro or Graham quite clearly [know] nothing about. They only have to deal with me and Fadipe for long haul flights and can’t get that right . What kind of a business advertises main event fights without a contract being signed . They tried to cut corners and it is unfortunate. Good luck with going worldwide if you struggle to understand the concept of business and fighters and what they go through. Hopefully they will educate themselves a bit more on weight cuts etc. [Sad] really as they forced me to pull out. I just put my heart and soul into training in Thailand for this rubbish to happen.”
“This is how professional they are, this is the first I’ve heard of my contract ending. I have messages of them apologizing and admitting it was their fault. I didn’t wanna be unprofessional and slander them and look what they have Just done . Really shocked and disgusted how they have handled this situation.”
Opie was aiming to rectify a pair of losses suffered in his last two contests. A KO victory in his promotional debut made way for an EFC title shot versus Gideon Drotschie last year, however Opie lost out to a second round TKO following a positive opening stanza.
Opie has since been replaced by Tumelo Maphutha who will step in to face Motaung on Oct. 2.
