Jeff Creighton delivered a winning performance on The Ultimate Fighter 33, but the event became even more memorable due to a truly unique negotiation that took place just before the fight.
His scheduled opponent, Andreeas Binder, who is part of coach Chael Sonnen’s team, significantly missed the weight limit for their quarterfinal bout. Binder weighed in at 176 pounds, which was five pounds over the division`s threshold, even factoring in the standard one-pound allowance permitted in non-title contests. This weight discrepancy put Binder, his coach Sonnen, and the entire production team in a difficult position regarding the fate of that week`s scheduled fight.
To salvage the bout, Sonnen reached out to the opposing team, coached by Daniel Cormier, with an offer: he would pay Creighton $1,000 for every pound Binder was over weight. However, Cormier and Creighton`s side countered with a higher demand, requesting $2,500 per pound. Surprisingly, Sonnen agreed to the increased amount, and the fight proceeded as planned.
From the perspective of viewers watching the episode, Creighton appeared to be a cold, calculating individual during the negotiation. However, the fighter himself shared a different account with MMA Fighting, explaining that the situation didn`t play out exactly as it was edited for television.
“The way they filmed it made it seem like I already had the figure in mind, like I was the one making the strategic calls,” Creighton explained. “In reality, that`s not what happened.” He described putting his phone down by his leg so Sonnen couldn`t overhear and consulting with his corner team when the $1,000 offer came in. Rosendo Sanchez, Cormier’s boxing coach, was the first to speak up, vehemently suggesting, “F*ck that. Ask for $2,500 a pound because Chael works for ESPN now. He can afford it.”
Creighton stated, “So I just went out on a limb based on what he said, and they took it hook, line, and sinker, which was great.” He stressed the importance of giving credit to Rosendo Sanchez, noting that the episode`s edit made him look like the ultimate negotiator with the number instantly ready, something he feels wouldn`t naturally be his approach. He was thankful Sanchez spoke up.
While fighters missing weight on The Ultimate Fighter is not an unprecedented occurrence, a penalty fee of this magnitude – a five-figure sum confirmed by Creighton to total $12,500 coming directly from Sonnen`s pocket – and the formal negotiation process surrounding it is unheard of in the long history of the reality TV show. TUF originally debuted in 2005 and is currently marking its 20th anniversary.
Creighton clarified that the athletic commission involved was primarily concerned with ensuring Binder was at a safe, reasonable weight on the actual fight day (a weight difference exceeding 10 pounds would likely have resulted in the bout being cancelled). When Creighton later spoke to UFC CEO Dana White about the unique circumstance, he received only positive feedback and praise from the potential future boss.
“I think Dana knew this was a good idea,” Creighton recalled. “The show`s never witnessed anything quite like this. So, he was completely supportive, giving it a thumbs-up, and wanted to see it happen.”
With the pre-fight drama resolved, the focus shifted entirely to Creighton`s performance in the octagon. Despite a difficult first round where Binder managed to land several impactful punches, Creighton and his corner team were confident that the struggles Binder faced while cutting weight would eventually impact him in the second round. Their prediction proved accurate. Creighton`s consistent pressure in Round 2 overwhelmed Binder, leading to dominant ground and pound that bloodied his opponent for the majority of the round. The judges ultimately awarded Creighton a 10-8 score for the second round, securing him the victory in the two-round contest.
This crucial win moves the 29-year-old Creighton (with a professional record of 11-2-1) one significant step closer to achieving his long-held dream of fighting under the UFC banner. His journey to this point has been far from a direct path. Before signing up for TUF, Creighton`s management had essentially placed him on standby, advising him to remain ready for a potential opportunity through the Contender Series or a short-notice UFC fight.
“There wasn`t a concrete deal really presented; it was more like, `Hey, you might get on Contender [Series] or it might be a short notice call, so you just need to stay ready,`” Creighton stated. “That was the extent of what I was told for two years.” He continued to train relentlessly, doing everything expected, but the anticipated opportunity never materialized. This prolonged waiting period led to significant frustration, especially as he got older, had a wife, and desired to start a family and buy a house. He “just got fed up with the process.”
Then, as he recounts, “[My manager] reached out and was like, `Hey, they’re doing 170 [pounds] for The Ultimate Fighter, and would you be interested?` And I immediately responded, `Hell yeah, I`d be interested.`” He saw it as an unexpected opportunity that suddenly appeared.
Creighton was the third welterweight selected for Team Cormier and the fifth welterweight picked overall in the selection process. He took personal responsibility for being chosen later in the process, admitting that he didn`t perform at his absolute best during the pre-selection workouts. However, once he was officially picked for the show, Creighton felt fully confident in his ability to go on and win the entire competition.
Reflecting on the pre-fight negotiation experience, particularly while simultaneously dealing with the physical and mental strain of cutting weight (“cutting-weight brain”), Creighton described it as “super exciting” and “just wild” to live through. He acknowledged the multitude of factors and pressures involved in making the decision but firmly believes they made the correct one, concluding, “It couldn’t have gone any better than that.”
