Michael Imperato
Michael Imperato lasted just less than 24 hours as a UFC fighter after it emerged he’d made racist and homophobic remarks on TV in the past.
Imperato had been handed a big opportunity to step in as a late replacement to fight Aljamain Sterling at UFC Fight Night 55 in 2014, but almost immediately people pointing that he had been a figure of controversy during an episode of a documentary series ‘Fight XChange’ that had aired on the Super Channel in Canada.
After an earlier altercation, Imperato ranted that fellow contestant Nate Stark was a “n*****” and a “f****t” and implied that he might steal from him because of his race.
Six months after that Imperato issued a written apology for his actions.
“I have used racist words when I was mad, not to be racist just to make people mad in an argument or heat of the moment,” Imperato said by way of explanation for his actions.
Still, within a matter of hours after his signing Imperato was released from the UFC and would go on to lose his next two fights and hasn’t fought again since.
