According to a report from MMA Madness, three prominent fighters from Arizona Combat Sports have left the team.
Undefeated middleweight Aaron Simpson (7-0), The Ultimate Fighter season 7 alum C.B. Dollaway (10-2), and TUF 8 winner Ryan Bader (11-0) have all left the gym.
The report says:
Based on information received from sources close to the situation, Ryan Bader, CB Dolloway and Aaron Simpson have left Arizona Combat Sports. Simpson responded via text, stating, “It’s all up in the air right now. I can’t say exactly, but I’m hoping to have news in a couple of weeks.”
The move by the three UFC competitors and Arizona State alums comes at a curious time as all are coming off the biggest wins of their careers. Bader defeated Keith Jardine via third round TKO at UFC 110, Dolloway took home a unanimous decision that same night against Goran Reljic and Simpson defeated Tom Lawlor at UFC Fight Night 20 in January.
The reason for the trios departure is currently unknown, but former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner responded to the news on the popular mixed martial arts forum, The Underground.
“I’ve been at AZ combat for 6 years now this gym builds fighters from the ground up,” stated Varner. “None of those guys would be where they are with out there training partners and the Lallys! Some douche bags like to talk [expletive], but our gym is battle tested and proven! When riggs left he started losing and got cut from the UFC. When Fickett got kicked out, he started losing and got kicked out of the UFC!”
Varner added, “I’m very interested to see what happens with those guys I wish them nothing but the best in there careers, but they made a HUGE mistake!”
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