By Burt Watson, former UFC event coordinator, has shared his side of the story regarding his departure from the promotion in 2015. Watson, who recently released his autobiography “Being Burt Watson,” discussed the incident on The MMA Hour.
The conflict arose when middleweight fighter Mark Munoz needed extra time to make weight. Watson secured an additional 30 minutes from the commission, which was unusual. After Munoz made weight, Watson returned to his hotel, only to receive a call from Michael Mersch, then UFC’s senior vice president of business, legal, and government affairs. Mersch’s disrespectful tone led to a heated exchange, culminating in Watson quitting his job.
Watson felt disrespected and questioned by Mersch, which led to his decision to leave. Despite his long tenure with the UFC, Watson was disappointed that no one from the organization reached out to hear his side of the story. This lack of communication marked the end of his 14-year relationship with the UFC.
