Jacob “Stitch” Duran is one of the best cutmen in combat sports history, having worked with the greatest fighters that the sport has to offer.
However, when it came to working with UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor for his super fight, the Irishman said that Stitch was just too expensive.
“Your contact guy is so-and-so,” Duran said to MMA Junkie Radio. “Used to be an attorney for the UFC. UFC let him go. I never had a great relationship with him, and I don’t think any of the fighters or trainers did. When my attorney and I sent them the proposal, it came back and literally just said that I was too expensive. And they left it at that. There was no counter-offer or anything like that.”
McGregor or Mayweather hasn’t announced who will be their cutmen for the event, but Sticth won’t be in either corner at the moment.
The cutman did receive a phone call from McGregor’s coach in John Kavanagh, who echoed the statement about his apparently high asking price.
“John Kavanagh sent me a text, and he said, ‘Man, I apologize. We wanted you, but they said you’re too expensive,'” Duran said. “I don’t know if Conor decides that or not.”
Conor McGregor versus Floyd Mayweather takes place on Saturday, August 26 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
