This past weekend, Canadian promotion MFC took the unprecedented step of releasing both fighters who had taken part in its main event.

Antonio McKee and Brian Cobb, both UFC veterans, had been due to compete for the vacant MFC lightweight title. But McKee missed weight by seven pounds while Cobb was a half-pound over.

MFC announced this week that both men had been cut from the roster. McKee’s removal was understandable but many felt Cobb had been treated harshly.

However, his management have since told Fighters Only that they are not only happy with Cobb being dropped, they insisted on it. According to Brawl Sports, Cobb has a much better offer on the table from another promotion and is now free to go and pursue it.

Fighters Only received the following account from Brawl Sports CEO Chuck Wichert:

About 11:30am EST (1.5 hour prior to weigh-in) I get a call from my client Brian Cobb.  Apparently Antonio McKee’s camp called him and said McKee was sitting at 159lb and bone dry and couldn’t cut anymore. 

McKee wanted to agree to a 159lb catch-weight.  I told Cobb that we would not agree to a catch-weight and Cobb felt he was on weight.  I proceeded to inform Mark Pavelich of the issue.  I informed Pavelich that McKee was at 159lb and Cobb was at 155lb and that McKee should NOT be more than 159lb for the fight to proceed.

After the official weigh-in and I received report that McKee weighed in at 162 and Cobb at 155.6, it was reported to me from a reliable source that McKee had begun re-hydrating prior to weigh-ins. This is apparently quite obvious since he was 159lbs one and a half hours prior to weigh-ins and weighed in at 162.

Cobb suffered through the last 1.5 hrs knowing his opponent wouldn’t make weight and thinking he was on weight per his personal scale…also, the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission allows .2 over for undergarment, so Cobb honestly believed he was on weight. 

Why would a fighter NOT cut an extra 0.4 lbs knowing he would receive 25 percent of his opponents pay (and I’m sure McKee is one of MFC highest paid) and would automatically be granted a title shot next fight if he came in on weight? Cobb made an honest attempt and doesn’t make any excuses for why he came in 0.4 over the allowed weight.

Shortly after weigh-ins, I discovered that the commission would then fine both fighters 20%. Those amounts would be awarded back to Pavelich and that Pavelich had made several comments stating that McKee is cut after the fight and Cobb would be cut also if he lost. 

At this very moment, I wanted to pull Cobb from the fight.  I called Cobb and said, “I recommend pulling you from the fight. You’re being docked 20 per cent, told you’re cut if you lose, and the fight is now 3 rounds versus 5. You have nothing to gain and all to lose in this situation.”

Cobb told me, “Chuck, I just want to do the right thing here and I think I should fight. After I win tonight, all of this won’t matter.” I told him, “ok, lets go do it”.  I regret it because he had Pavelich’s back by making the fight still happen for the MFC fans but did Pavelich have Cobb’s back? 

I think it’s clear to say NO, he didn’t.  I don’t understand that if the reason he was cut was because he was 0.4 off from the commissions approved weight, why would he allow him to stay if he won?  I feel like I failed my fighter (Cobb) and I won’t ever let that happen again.

My only issue with McKee is that he disrespected Cobb by rehydrating prior to the weigh-ins. If his kidneys were that bad, he should have not fought.  This is my only issue concerning McKee. McKee believes it was more than just the weight issue for why he was cut, I also agree that Cobb was cut for reasons other than the weight issue.

I texted Pavelich right after the fight asking him if Cobb is released, I got no reply. I really felt Pavelich would NOT cut Cobb knowing the honest effort he made and that he saved the MFC’s main card on HDNet by still going through with the fight.

However, after I waited for a reply with no answer after 24 hours I proceeded to send Pavelich an email stating that we acknowledge Cobb’s release because of his comments made on numerous sites (even though he never officially stated it until after I sent my email to him) and that we were thankful for the opportunity given to Cobb but we are moving forward (at this point, I already had Cobb’s next venture in place). 

I forced Pavelich to keep his word on cutting Cobb and it now benefits Cobb greatly. 

I can’t talk about Cobb’s next promotion yet but this deal is very BIG so we are very excited to be out of the MFC contract so Cobb can now give his solid efforts to a promotion and promoter that treats him with great respect and someone who is just as happy to have Cobb in his/her organization as Cobb is about being a part of their organization.