Deron Winn has criticised the UFC's "s****y" decision to cut him after suffering a freak accident that cancelled his fight.
Winn, 33, was scheduled to fight Julian Marquez at UFC Vegas 66 last weekend but was forced out of the fight after fainting and falling down the stairs at the promotion's Performance Institute in Las Vegas. The middleweight contender hurt his neck and head in the fall, being rushed to hospital after sustaining a mild concussion. Winn underwent follow-up tests for his injuries, all of which came back without any concern.
Winn didn’t reveal what led to him fainting, but the UFC decided to withdraw him from his fight against Marquez because of safety concerns. Less than a week after the incident, Winn revealed the UFC has cut him as he tweeted: "Being released after a freak accident on their property the week before Christmas. Man 'it’s business not personal' has never been more real."
Clarifying the situation in an Instagram video, Winn said: "I got a phone call from [chief business officer] Hunter Campbell and the UFC and I guess we decided to part ways. He just explained some things to me about my resume and my career that adds up, but I also said a few things to try to defend myself and I just feel like this wasn’t the reason to let me go. I just wished that I could’ve went out on my shield. I would’ve rather went out on a loss or even a boring win."
Winn praised UFC staff for helping him after his accident and admits he feels "s****y* about the entire situation. The accomplished college wrestler, who last fought in June, has insisted he will sit down and assess what's next for him. "I don’t think I’m done. I’m going to sit down and see what my options are going forward in this free agency time. I’m definitely willing to fight in the future," he added.
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"Just such an accidental freak accident situation that happened to me. They have it on camera. Their employees are the ones that took care of me, they withdrew me from the fight. It’s kinda s****y. I feel s****y about it.
"I just wish it would’ve happened a different way. But that being said, UFC will never define me or who I am as a person and a man. I do believe it’s a highlight of my life and something that I did and just another dream that I accomplished."
