Shaqueme “Shem” Rock believes the
Ultimate Fighting Championship didn’t repay the favors he did
for the promotion.
Rock was released from the UFC after losing to Abdul-Kareem
Al-Selwady at
UFC London this past March, taking his promotional record to
0-2. The Englishman admits he didn’t expect a UFC release and
thought he would be offered at least one more bout, since he fought
Al-Selwady injured.
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Why Shem Rock thought accepting the UFC London fight would earn
him another opportunity
Despite the injury, Rock accepted the Al-Selwady fight, hoping the
UFC would repay him with another bout. However, he has now moved on
as he understands it’s a cutthroat industry.
“I was surprised; I was thinking I was at least gonna get one
more,” Rock told Home of Fight. “Especially the last one, I didn’t
really want to do UFC London; I was injured. I felt like I went
above and beyond. I felt like I should’ve just stayed on the bench;
I thought it was a, ‘You scratch my back, I scratch yours,’ kind of
deal. I don’t cry over spilled milk. I get it, it’s a cutthroat
industry. It’s more about what you’ve done for me recently; it is
what it is. I’m making no excuses; I’m moving forward.”
Rock (11-3-1) has now found a new home in the
Professional Fighters League. The 33-year-old is scheduled to
make his promotional debut against Connor
Hughes at
PFL Dubai on Nov. 14 at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab
Emirates.
👀 Shem Rock opens up about his UFC release
and says he was shocked to get his walking papers after his last
loss. “I was surprised, I was thinking the UFC would give me one
more. I felt like I went above and beyond, I didn’t wanna do UFC
London. I did it injured. I felt like I should’ve just stayed on
the bench, I thought it was a ‘you scratch my back, I scratch
yours’ kinda deal. It’s more about what you’ve done for me
recently, it is what it is. No use crying over spilled milk.” via:
@Home_of_Fight / @JakeNoecker— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight)
November 5, 2026