SIGNINGS, RE-SIGNINGS, AND RELEASES

NEW YORK — UGP 15 celebrated a full calendar year that the organization has been in operations, and it's no secret Union GP has become the pinnacle of combat sports. We have seen several promotions come and go in that time, but Union Grand Prix looks as strong as ever.

Of course, with the notion of continual growth at the forefront, contract negotiations are at a constant. Here are some quick hits on the latest news at the negotiation table.

Heavyweight Amani Crawford

As first reported by Circle TV, Kenzi Grey has requested and granted her release, as well as her fellow CTV coworker JT Spencer. Middleweight fighter Agustin Gates and Cruiserweight fighter Chris Santiago have also been given their releases.

Heavyweight fighters Amani Crawford, Bobbi London, and Cruiserweight fighter Maxine Ball have fought out their current contracts and are not expected to negotiate a new deal.

Cruiserweight fighter Cal McCluskey and Lightweight fighter Tatum Momo’a have reached the end of their contracts and although no new deals have been finalized, it's reported that President Dante Reed hopes to keep them around for a long time and get discussions going.

As of the first reports in early September, nothing has been finalized on the ongoing discussions with the former inaugural Middleweight Champion Cristian Bonanno. Sources claim that the numbers on a new contract have been verbally agreed upon, but the pen hasn't hit the paper just yet. Perhaps an opponent for his anticipated return could be the lingering factor.

New Heavyweight addition L.A.Brooks

In some more positive news, Union GP President Dante Reed has been on a scouting spree to bring in new prospects and new competition. Yasmine Vermeulen has signed a 4-6 fight deal to compete in the deep Lightweight Division. Also of note, three new Heavyweights have been signed, which include: Harmon Janssen, Sebastian Stone, and L.A. Brooks. There's been speculation that more Heavyweights may be signed in the coming weeks to add solid depth in a historically thin division (no pun intended).

Leah Lowe (left) and Lizzy Taylor (right)

Dante Reed has also signed two new ring girls, Lizzy Taylor and Leah Lowe. Reed has been adamant about having more full-time ring girls on pay roll for some time and Lizzy and Leah were two he had hoped to strike a deal with after they were let go from their former employer.

And finally, three prominent fighters reached the end of their contracts at UGP 15 and have since signed new deals. Rising Middleweight contender Travis Decker has signed an exclusive 6 fight deal with a base pay of $100,000 per fight, top Bantamweight contender Zari Aliyah has signed an exclusive 3 fight deal at $150,000 per fight, and former Lightweight Champion Natalie King has signed an exclusive 8 fight deal at $800,000 per fight.