OPINION: Why the firing of “Stitch” could be the straw that broke the camel’s back for the UFC

A big part of the UFC's heart has just been surgically removed.

Let me preface this piece by clarifying that there could very well be more to the events surrounding Jacob Stitch Duran's firing than meets the eye. But according to reports, Stitch's sacking came simply as a result of comments he made in relation to the UFC's new Reebok deal in which he explained that his pocket had taken a considerable hit as cutmen were losing their own sponsorships, a significant chunk of their monthly paychecks. While it's not wise to disparage one's employer, many UFC fighters have spoken out about the Reebok deal in a negative light with high-profile athletes like Brendan Schaub, Jose Aldo and the Diaz brothers all taking swipes at their loss of sponsorship dollars. But yet all three still have their jobs. Similarly, long-time UFC commentator Joe Rogan has spoken on his podcast how he believes that certain fighters are going to suffer with the deal and that he could foresee certain athletes being chased to rival promotion Bellator where no exclusive uniform deal is in place. And Rogan still remains behind the mic at nearly every UFC event. So why make Jacob Duran the scapegoat? https://youtu.be/aWf5lxBBYrI Stitch has been working for the promotion for 14 years now and had become part of the furniture in the corridors of the UFC in the same way that Bruce Buffer, Arianny Celeste and John McCarthy have. An honest answer to a question was enough for the UFC to forever burn their bridges with the moustachioed cutman who, you'd think, would have been guaranteed a place in their hall of fame in the coming years. "Heartless," "ruthless," and "money-driven" have been used by fans to describe the firing of one of their favourite characters in the fight game and it's hard to argue with them because it seems like a bit of a double standard that fighters are permitted to question the Reebok deal with no repercussions whatsoever yet when a behind-the-scenes, but integral, figure like Duran does so, he is given the boot. Even away from the sentimentality, you'd have to question what the UFC consider more important, their new lucrative sponsorship or their fighters' safety. In losing Stitch, the promotion are going to be without the man almost universally considered to be the best hand-wrapper in the business. How many fighters are going to suffer broken hands due to the fact that Stitch isn't sat opposite them on a Saturday evening, taking the time to wrap their hands to perfection? It's impossible to say but the fighters clearly aren't happy about it.

There is only one man I want wrapping my hands and handling my corner in the @ufc That is @StitchDuran best cut-man in the business.

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 22, 2015

You have to sympathise with the fighters. Imagine having your hands wrapped for years by the best ever, feeling wholly confident that you could land power-punches without injury and then having that security taken away. It's just one extra safety worry that fighters shouldn't have to deal with. And away from metacarpal injuries, how many fighters are going to have inferior jobs done on the cuts suffered in the octagon? For years, the work that Stitch was able to get done in the one-minute break between rounds and the vital moments after a bout was considered "magic".

Sooo disappointed to hear about @StitchDuran !! He's the man and was my go to guy. Wrapped me for all my championship fights! — Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) July 22, 2015

It had become quite commonplace to see fighters stumble back to the corner looking like they had taken a baseball bat to the face before returning 60 seconds later looking like they'd just had a slightly over-aggressive facial. That's testament to the skills of Stitch and now it's something that fighters don't have at their disposal. To stretch that point further, you'd think that there are certain fighters whose careers are going to be shortened because they won't have Stitch in their corner to deal with hematomas, shattered noses and deep lacerations. I completely get that the UFC have to protect their business interests but surely a warning would have sufficed, wouldn't it? Now the UFC's credibility has been brought into question, their former image as one big happy family has been torn apart and their reputation as the best promotion to work for has been sliced to shreds. And not even Stitch can fix that.