Matt Frevola disappointed with new UFC contract, out to prove his worth at UFC 281

It’s safe to say Matt Frevola is unhappy with his current compensation.

Following his most recent dismantling of Genaro Valdez, in what was at the time the 32-year-old’s final fight of his UFC deal, Frevola felt a wave of disrespect accompanying the contract renewal offer he’d received from the promotion. He knew it was ‘do or die’ in that January outing, and he went out and got it done, but his efforts weren’t reciprocated in good faith.

With five years of tenure in the promotion, ‘The Steamrolla’ feels his performances under the bright lights of the Octagon are worth more, and not solely in terms of the financials. His aim is to prove that worth with a highlight finish of the undefeated Ottman Azaitar at UFC 281.

“I didn’t think it was a fair deal,” Frevola told The AllStar of the initial offer he’d received from the UFC. “So we told them that we thought we deserved more money, you know, a better deal for my body of work.”

After that, it was crickets.

“They kind of just ghosted us for a while…”

The matchmakers began ignoring Frevola’s requests for opponents, dates, and locations. He’d called to fight Paddy Pimblett, as well as plead to fill an open spot on a card in his hometown when the UFC visited Long Island, New York; both to no avail.

“[When] they didn’t give me that Long Island fight, I was very upset about that,” the Serra Longo student recalled.

“Then I had to look in the new management after that because I didn’t understand; After one of the best performances of my career, I go out there and have an awesome first-round finish – a really exciting fight – I didn’t understand how I wasn’t getting what I deserve, or wasn’t getting the big fights, or wasn’t getting the fights in my home my hometown.”

After a change in representation and some back and forth with company brass, Frevola begrudgingly re-signed with the promotion for an undisclosed amount – though it was clearly not what he was angling for.

“The deal is still not what I deserve in my opinion, but we got the [Madison Square Garden] fight and I gotta just go out there and do what I do; and then, you know eventually, I’ll get what I deserve.”

A powerhouse fighter that feels undervalued, a New York pay-per-view, and an opponent with hype and an undefeated record – the ingredients are all there for Frevola to spoil Azaitar’s return and make himself a household name.

“Fighting undefeated guys really fires me up, and especially this guy, you know. This guy needs to be humbled and who’s better to humble him than me.”

---

Fighter profile

Matt “Steamrolla” Frevola is a 32-year-old male fighter from the United States with 9 pro wins and 3 losses. Frevola is scheduled to fight Ottman Azaitar at UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira on Saturday, November 12, 2022.

Matt Frevola’s recent form coming into this matchup

Matt Frevola has gone 3-2 in the last 5 professional MMA fights.

• Win vs Genaro Valdéz • KO/TKO R1 3:15 • 2022-01-22
• Loss vs Terrance McKinney • KO/TKO R1 0:07 • 2021-06-12
• Loss vs Arman Tsarukyan • Decision R3 5:00 • 2021-01-23
• Win vs Luis Pena • Decision R3 5:00 • 2019-10-12
• Win vs Jalin Turner • Decision R3 5:00 • 2019-04-13

Matt Frevola’s next opponent: Ottman “Bulldozer” Azaitar

Ottman “Bulldozer” Azaitar’s recent form coming into this matchup

Ottman “Bulldozer” Azaitar is a 32-year-old male fighter from Morocco with 13 pro wins and 0 losses. Azaitar is scheduled to fight Matt Frevola at UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira on Saturday, November 12, 2022.

Ottman Azaitar has gone 5-0 in the last 5 professional MMA fights.

• Win vs Khama Worthy • KO/TKO R1 1:33 • 2020-09-12
• Win vs Teemu Packalén • KO/TKO R1 3:33 • 2019-09-07
• Win vs Danijel Kokora • KO/TKO R1 0:32 • 2018-08-18
• Win vs Alejandro Martinez • KO/TKO R3 1:16 • 2017-11-17
• Win vs Charlie Leary • KO/TKO R1 2:22 • 2017-03-31

How to watch and bet on Matt Frevola vs Ottman Azaitar