The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

UFC versus fighters: Will the tide turn?

Roar Pro
14th December, 2014
8

It has been announced that a class action lawsuit will be filed shortly against the UFC by a number of fighters who have been, or who currently are, employed by the MMA promotion.

The UFC has had a huge amount of control over the athletes who fight for it for many years, and the recent deal on compulsory fighter uniforms supplied by Reebok caused a surge of resentment within the ranks of fighters and could be regarded as a tipping point.

Fighters have been speaking out publicly as to the lack of compensation for fighting for the UFC and now legal action looks to be imminent, which could potentially be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

This is not to say the UFC is worried, probably far from it. The crux of the legal action is that the promotion used its power as the pre-eminent MMA organisation to unjustly control the fighter market and use this leverage to unfairly compensate it’s employees.

As recently as 2012 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) closed down an investigation regarding the UFC monopolising the sport of MMA, so it is difficult to see a court coming to a different decision now.

What is significant, however, is fighters are not only speaking about dissatisfaction with their situation but are prepared to go to court to attempt to get a better deal. This open rebellion is a backflip from the wall of silence which normally emanates from the walls of current UFC employees.

It could be the beginning of something bigger – a fighters’ union. Banded together (akin to the NFL players’ union) the fighters would have significant bargaining power and be able to negotiate a much improved deal from the one which currently exists.

While this episode may come to nothing it is clear there is an upswing in dissatisfaction with employment conditions under the UFC umbrella. Many will be hoping that this case will galvanise the promoter into positive action.

Advertisement
close