Matt Lindland, Ivan Trembow and the UFC vs the Agents and the Fighters

by Kid Nate on Nov 20, 2008 4:10 PM EST in MMA News

In a nice bit of timing, considering the Jon Fitch/video rights fiasco going on, a new documentary "Fighting Politics" is coming out about Matt Lindland and his various battles with the politics of MMA. And by the politics of MMA, I mean Dana White.

Click the image to watch the trailer. Its worth a look. Basically the movie asks the question, "If its not about the best fighting the best, is MMA a sport?"

Good question. Sometimes it feels like its more of a racket.

Ivan Trembow, long time MMA commentator has a very insightful post about what angle Dana is really working with this latest gambit, separating fighters from their management:

It's crystal clear in USA Today's interview with Dana White that what the UFC is trying to do is separate the fighters from their managers, whose job is to look out for the best interests of the fighter (as opposed to just signing whatever the UFC orders the fighters to sign).

White cites Mike Swick as an example of a model employee, a “partner” as he words it, who called White personally and said to forget about his management because he’s with the UFC.

White says in the same interview that if Fitch would just call him and do the same thing (ie, separate himself from his management and agree to sign what the UFC wants him to sign), that White would do that in two seconds.

The message to fighters is clear: If you want to keep fighting in the UFC, but your manager or lawyer advises you against signing the merchandising agreement, you can just ditch your manager, contact me directly, and sign whatever I tell you to sign.

In the USA Today interview, White also puts unnamed “other MMA camps” on notice that he’ll cut off all relations with them just like he did with Fitch's camp if they don’t do what he wants.

Honestly I feel like what the UFC is trying to pull is very old school monopoly business practices. Kind of like what DC comics did to the guys who created Superman or what Marvel did to Jack "King" Kirby. Its bullshit to try to force guys to sign away lifetime rights to their likeness. And in this day and age of online communications its very hard to get away with this kind of bareknuckle stuff. Even if you are the best MMA promotion in the history of the planet.

HT Fightlinker (and read this one and this one too)

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Comments

“If its not about the best fighting the best, is MMA a sport?”

I don’t know. Is Boxing a sport?

by Brett Jones on Nov 20, 2008 4:38 PM EST reply actions

not like it used to be.

by Kid Nate on Nov 20, 2008 4:38 PM EST up reply actions

And MMA isn’t the same sport it used to be, either.

by Brett Jones on Nov 20, 2008 4:39 PM EST up reply actions

mma fans = the biggest bunch of whine babies ever

you know what… I hope a union forms, UFC is forced to pay people affliction style, and they go bank rupt. Then the cry babies can cry about their being nothing but backyard mma

by dbcb on Nov 20, 2008 4:54 PM EST reply actions

thanks for your thoughtful and intelligent contribution.

by Kid Nate on Nov 20, 2008 5:07 PM EST up reply actions

Before everyone’s panties get too tight and wedged in the cheeks

Here’s some homework and some reality:

Have you ever tried to sell goods to walmart?

Guess what…

If you are even lucky enough to be accepted they will tell you what price they will pay, the deliver cycles and the payment terms…

If you don’t like it go fuck yourself.

Have you ever tried to sell a pilot to CBS or HBO?

Again if it’s even lucky enough to be accepted they will tell you what price and on what terms…

If you don’t like it… guess what? go fuck yourself.

The reality is every industry leader dictates the terms… if you don’t like it… well you know:)

Now having said that

The Dana really does try to do things the right way… Ive seen people in less powerful positions who flex way more.

This is a case where these “agents” were flexing at every turn…

Guess what?

The Dana flexed back and now they’re pissing in their pants.

It didnt have to be this way, Zuffa want’s its fighters to make a good living doing what they love at the same time Zuffa wants to expand and reinvest and make sure they can continue to cover payroll.

by mmalogic on Nov 20, 2008 4:56 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

don’t hold Wal Mart up as a good thing. It fucking sucks and it gutted American retail.

by Kid Nate on Nov 20, 2008 4:58 PM EST up reply actions

Im not saying it’s a good thing per say (although I believe it is)… Im just saying industry leaders dictate the terms.

Its true in every case the only exception being where unions are invloved – and in those areas the company’s are either going bankrupt or the situation is such where the company still get the lions share in revenues.

Now the harder these agents push the more Zuffa will be like Walmart.

by mmalogic on Nov 20, 2008 5:10 PM EST up reply actions

yeah the NBA, MLB and the NFL are all going bankrupt. lol

by Kid Nate on Nov 20, 2008 5:17 PM EST up reply actions

“or the situation is such where the company still get the lions share in revenues.”

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Nov 20, 2008 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

who’s saying UFC shouldn’t get the lion’s share of revenue?
that’s a given.
but that’s a far cry from demanding that fighters sign away life time rights to their likeness.

by Kid Nate on Nov 20, 2008 5:39 PM EST up reply actions