Last month, fans of former UFC Octagon girl Edith Labelle were disappointed to find out that she was no longer working for the organization. Many questions surrounded her departure, but few answers were made available.FanHouse recently spoke to the native of Mascouche, Quebec, Canada, about her sudden dismissal and whether she plans on continuing working in MMA.
"After the UFC Expo and weigh-ins [at UFC 100], I went to dinner," she said. "Then I attended some of the pre-parties with some of the UFC management, some of the Octagon girls, some of the fighters. And then I started to feel ill -- I wasn't feeling good. So I decided to go to bed. I really wanted to be in good shape for the next day, obviously. Then I started to feel worse throughout the night and the next day.
"It was so bad that I couldn't stop throwing up. Then it was kind of getting late that [next] day -- I didn't realize it was that late -- so I contacted the proper UFC personnel to let them know of my situation, and I told them that I would get ready as quick as possible and I would be there. I didn't want to miss that at all. They told me to stay in my room because they didn't want to take the risk of anything happening because it was such a big event. So I had to stay [in my hotel room].
"Honestly, it was the worst feeling because I was so excited for those fights, obviously, and I could hear the fans cheering and screaming while I was laying in my bed."
Labelle was let go a few days later. She said she was disappointed when she heard a rumor that the reason why she couldn't attend the event was because she was hung over.
"That's not true. I was not hung over. I was really sick. That's why I left the pre-party because I was really sick. ... I truly believe it was food poisoning."
Still, when UFC management called her with the news after the event, there was nothing she could do to convince them otherwise.
"They contacted me and they said that the rumor was that I was too hungover, that I partied too hard. I just wish ... I was literally laying on the bathroom floor -- I was so sick. Thinking back, I should have thought to see a doctor or ask them to send one of the UFC's doctors to check up on me to see what was wrong. But I didn't think about it before, and a day or two later, it was too late."
Missing the UFC's most high-profile event would certainly be a major strike, but Labelle was disappointed in the fact that she wasn't given the benefit of the doubt. Nevertheless, she says she holds no ill feelings towards organization.
"I felt like I was letting them down because it was such a big event, but it was out of my control. I also felt like I was with them for a year and a half, and of course, nothing like that every happened before. ... I was really sick, so of course I felt a little sad.
"I wish it would have happened differently, but I'm still a huge fan of the UFC."
Labelle says her ring girl days are over. She started her MMA career with the now-defunct TKO promotion and made her Octagon debut at UFC 78 in November 2007. She still plans on attending UFC events in the future, and said she hopes to meet the newest Octagon girl, Natasha Wicks.
Strangely enough, she said more people recognize her since she stopped working for the UFC in July. She points to her involvement in the successful UFC 2009: Undisputed video game, which she admits to being "pretty cool, but kinda weird," as the most probable reason behind her increased fame.
Next for Labelle, she will star in a Web series produced by a Montreal-based production company, Movie Seals, where she will play a super heroine. No release date has been announced. The French Canadian plans to do more acting and fitness modeling in the future, and hopes to land some kind of hosting gig in the MMA world. She says her new official Web site, EdithLabelle.ca, will be up and running shortly.
As for her time as a UFC Octagon girl, Labelle has no regrets and no favorite experience. The whole ride, she says, was memorable.
"I don't really have one [favorite memory] in particular. It's just always discovering new cities, and getting to know all the fighters, and just getting to be there for all the great events. Just the whole thing was a great experience."
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
another great article by Ariel. And now MDS will poop over it with his Twitter crap or rehashed YouTube videos. Great job Ariel.
I'm sure there is more to the story than this ...
The UFC was probably looking for a reason to get rid of her and this opportunity came along. Because as she said, if this was the first issue I doubt they would not take her at her word and fire her in such a way.
She missed alot of events over the last 1.5 yrs due to work visa issues. Maybe this was still an issue.
Its just like you Eric to talk alot of crap and not say anything. Shut up already and get a life!
She was drunk and hungover. She didnt call a doctor for that reason, she knew she was lushed. If someone has food poisoning it is a painful experience and having UFC doctors oncall 24/7 is something anyone in that condition would have done. GJ on the UFC letting her go was a common sense decision.
Hey idiot she thought she would feel better the next day. What is your problem talking trash about a situation you know nothing about.
People who get on line and bitch about other people are only jealous because the know they are worthless.
And somewhere there is a story here?
She is a freaking pretty girl carrying a sign...
If there wasn't a octagon who is to say she wouldn't be swinging around a pole.
Give me a break
You're right, she is a "professional hot chick" as Joe Rogan says, but to say she'd be "swinging around a pole" if she wasn't an octagon girl is just wrong. Only an a-hole would say such a thing about a woman.
Their are millions of viewers for every UFC & every aspect of the production is at least somewhat important. Hence the story ...
Eric stop trying to be captain save a ho.
she can swing around my pole anytime...
She should sue them..they cannot prove she was hungover, and if she said she wasnt then why would they believe otherwise? People do get sick and throw up and cant control it...Oh well they just lost a good person..idiots
she can't do that because she would have to prove that she wasn't hung over and since she didn't go to the doctor then she can't do that. and the UFC as her employer they can fire her for any reason that they see fit.
ahhh news...
if she needs money, I know a way she can earn some...
She should start doing low budget movies that go straight to DVD in which her top is off a lot.
If she had food poisoning, I believe she would have had to take antibiotics to get rid of it. Correct me if I'm wrong.
You're wrong.
I've had food poisoning a couple of times and you get very sick, vomit a lot, get dizzy, and need to lay down and drink plenty of water, but I didn't need to take any antibiotics.
UFC 100 is huge, she was drunk and didnt call a doctor for thar reason. The big show is important and she failed to show. The doctor would have verified that she was indeed drunk so she decided not to call. All employed persons would have called the doctor for even a headache- she didnt because she knew she messed up and didnt want the doc to tell Dana she was hungover. Goodbye Horseface hot chick.
Give her another chance. She is way hotter than Natasha, the new girl.
I am guessing there is more to the story here, but that is how it goes. She wasn't under contract, just like millions of other employees. They can let you go anytime they want. Have no fear -- she will land on her back -- I mean, uh, feet.
Ha ! HA! HA !......Way Funny !....and maybe true!