Cutman Jacob "Stitch" Duran, a between-round fixture for many of the largest boxing and MMA fights in recent memory, has signed a multiyear deal with Bellator MMA less than a year after UFC officials fired him for publicly criticizing their company.
Bellator announced the news Thursday in a statement emailed to media members and on its official Twitter account.
Welcome to #BellatorNation @StitchDuran! DETAILS: https://t.co/Q6IkIvHiOZ http://pic.twitter.com/dY2nWVaIr0
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) March 31, 2016
Later in the day, Duran confirmed the news.
I want to thank everyone who is responding to me joining Bellator. Your energy is what kept me going and doing the right things. Love u all.
— Jacob Stitch Duran (@StitchDuran) March 31, 2016
“Working with my old friend, Scott Coker, and Bellator is a true honor,” said Duran in the statement, referencing the promotion's president. “I can’t wait to get started working for a great organization that respects their employees and truly makes their fighters the top priority.”
The wording of the statement also noted that Duran "will not be prevented from seeking sponsors to wear and will also continue to work boxing events."
One could interpret both Duran's comment and the statement text as veiled jabs at one of Duran's former employers. In July the UFC let Duran go just days after he spoke critically of the UFC's then-new sponsorship deal with the Reebok apparel giant, which prevented fighters (and cutmen) from displaying other sponsors in the cage and taking in that extra revenue. According to Duran, the two incidents were connected, with his candor leading to his canning.
UFC President Dana White shot back at Duran later, noting that he and Stitch were never friends.
Along with his duties working with boxing's Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko and now Bellator, among others, Duran has appeared in two films in the Rocky franchise. Most recently, Duran had a speaking role in the film Creed.
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