Who keeps MMA promotions in check?

by mattman73 on Jul 24, 2008 10:54 PM EDT Comment 20 comments

In Football and Baseball the sports writers are very much the caretakers of the sport. Every nuance is disected and debated virtually everyday. Scandal in those sports gets covered repeatedly and the individuals involved get hounded by the beat writers hoping to gather the next bit of information. They go to great lengths mining every available source to get the true story.

When the news of Spy-Gate broke for months Bill Belichick could not step in front of a microphone without being asked a question about it. The media pounced on the story. Fox managed to get a clip of one of the infamous spy tapes and it aired on one of their pre-game shows. The NFL commissioner wasn't happy the clip had gotten out and demanded all the tapes be destroyed. The media had gotten the evidence though and showed the public what was taking place. We the fans got to see it.

Are we to that stage yet in MMA?

For months I have heard how bad certain parts of the UFC's contracts are. I have heard rumors of certain clauses being in them. I have one big problem though. I have never seen a UFC contract to verify those accusations. How can we the fans have an intelligent discussion about the UFC's contracts if we have never seen one?

If the UFC's contracts are as bad as some people portray them to be how come Dana White doesn't get asked questions about them every time he steps in front of a microphone? I have a feeling if he couldn't fairly defend them in front of the media every day then they would get changed to where he could. How come there is no pressure on the UFC to defend their contracts and to discuss openly how they are treating their fighters?

I know we the fans keep the sport alive and make it grow but the media has to play a role in keeping the sport in check. I don't know maybe I'm missing something or I could be completely off base but I want to see the great reporters we have in MMA step up and start asking the hard questions and repeatedly asking the hard questions until they get the answers we fans deserve.

I guess all I'm asking for is for someone to show me a copy of an official UFC contract so that I can make an informed decision on how good or how bad they are and if they are as bad as some people portray them to be then for the media to step up and ask Dana White every time he steps in front of a microphone to fix them so that the fighters are getting treated fairly.

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I hope I'm not way off on this.

This is just a problem I can’t find the answer to.

I hope I haven’t missed someone posting a copy of a UFC contract because then I’m just an ass.

But I feel like repeatedly I have gotten in discussion that UFC contracts play a part in and without seeing one I feel like I’m never having an informed discussion not knowing all the facts.

by mattman73 on Jul 24, 2008 10:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Very interesting post.

I think Dana understands this and part of the benefit he derives from his tough guy persona is that he can come off as intimidating to reporters. (Not on the level of Vince McMahon/Costas interview but its still there).

Another thing Dana has done to avoid this kind of criticism is constantly degrade the “internet crowd” through his comments and his decision to not grant MMA websites media access. I don’t know if this is still the case, if not can someone let me know how it is now (I remember Luke Thomas saying that he has to work hard just to get a press release from the UFC). The internet crowd, for all of its faults, is actually very good at about creating discussions about these types of issues (your post being an example), and by denying the websites credibility Dana can deflect the criticisms before they are even levied.

Secondly, I don’t think mainstream media thinks the interest in MMA is significant enough to discuss secondary issues of the sport. They have a problem simply providing adequate coverage for the events themselves. For example, ESPN’s coverage is basically just links to Sherdog (although their new MMA show has promise).

Look at the coverage of Rampage’s arrest. This is exactly the type of story that ESPN revels in and places on the front page and writes articles about for days and days, however it was a covered with a link on the front page for about an hour and then relegated to the MMA page (which itself is hidden within the site under other sports or something of the like). If a secondary story like this can’t get mainstream coverage, forget about something like abusive contracts.

Finally, look at how corrupt and crazy Boxing contracts were (are) in the 80s and 90s with Don King (among many others) basically robbing his fighters. He was able to get away with it for years and years and I don’t remember reporters constantly berating him with questions about it every time he had a microphone in front of him.

by Day Man on Jul 24, 2008 11:31 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

I wish I would have included some of your points in my original article now.

Oh well it’s part of the discussion now. Thanks.

by mattman73 on Jul 25, 2008 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No worries, that’s why the comments are here, the article was an excellent jumping off point for the discussion.

by Day Man on Jul 25, 2008 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d check this out http://watchkalibrun.blogspot.com/2008/06/workers-of-mma-unite.html
Laws and contracts keep fight promotions in check. The problem is fighters sign contracts in an attempt to make more money and get more exposure. Many of these contracts are not favorable and restrictive. But the advantage of exposure and sponsorship dollars quickly fall to the wayside with unreasonable restrictions. i.e. the UFC’s new merchandising deal or the Randy Couture situation.

Also the strategy of ‘bonuses’ that Zuffa uses is a mob like strategy. Fighters get paid a base salary which is legally obligated to report as well as fight of the night bonuses. But Zuffa also pays under the table bonuses in cash that are unreported. This was the big level of contention Randy Couture had, which led to other issues. Zuffa essentially keeps fighters in the dark of how much the other guy is making (businesses do the same thing). This keeps fighters from wanting to organize in to a collective pool to protect their collective interests due to lack of information on unfair pay scale and abusive/restrictive contracts.

While not as bad as boxing promoters who took large shares of everything (Joe Louis had to pay 10% of his earnings to Braddock for 10 years due to a promotion deal, Louis never knew about it), it is still a problem for equity and fairness. Also remember while a lot of money is floating around now there still is nowhere near as much cash in the system as other major sports. These sports generate revenue through merchandise as well as stadiums. The UFC’s revenue stream is almost exclusively dictated by live gates and PPV.

Essentially there is a long way to go before real fairness and a CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) could come into existence.

by Zak Woods on Jul 25, 2008 10:26 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

In football and baseball it’s pretty well reported what every player makes and their salaries are not treated as a matter of national security. It allows every player to value himself in the market. Now granted certain players over value themselves and it gets ugly but overall I think the transparency is a good thing. That article makes a good case for some type of fighters union but until then I think transparency would help greatly.

If these contract issues were a problem in football or baseball you would see the commissioners of those sports having to defend it every time they stepped in front of a microphone. The media covering those sports don’t relent. I feel like they take on the responsibility as they are the caretakers and it’s their jobs to not only report but to also question the powers that be in those sports to keep them honest.
(I realize they have unions in those sports with high powered lawyers and unfair contracts would never get signed.)

I know most of the MMA reporters are not doing it for the money. Cause there isn’t much money in it yet but I’m just guessing on that. They are doing it because they truly love the sport. So why not start addressing the biggest problems in the sport as often as they possibly can to get them fixed like they do in football and baseball. To me the biggest problem in MMA might be unfair contracts but honestly I have never seen one so I can’t be sure of that.

by mattman73 on Jul 25, 2008 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Football salaries aren't what they seem to be

First off the reported football contracts are extremely inflated. Players are give six-year 60 million dollar deals but they only receive 20 million. This is due to several reasons. First players get a base salary. Then there is guaranteed money this is base salary plus guaranteed bonuses like an Xmas bonus or w/e. Then there are incentives which are reward base bonuses. If you rush for 1,500 yards you get paid an extra million.

But companies do not have to honor any of the payment once a player is cut. This means that a lot of veteran contracts are extremely late heavy. For instance the last two years of a six year 60 million dollar deal pay 25 million. If the player isn’t hurt or still performing at a high level then they renegotiate. If not he is cut and doesn’t make any of that money

by Zak Woods on Jul 26, 2008 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree they can be a little misleading.

But those contracts are not treated like a matter of national security and the media can report on them without problem or obstruction from the league.

by mattman73 on Jul 26, 2008 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The UFC is a private company…therefore, they can report/pay whatever they want. That’s why hear about these ‘behind the scene’ performance bonuses…yet they are not reported when the commissions report the salaries.

http://tharealness.wordpress.com/

by Tha Realness on Jul 25, 2008 11:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The pay is really only part of the problem. It’s all the other clauses like automatic renewal or being able to cancel a contract whenever they want without penalty that I think is a bigger problem. The clauses that may or may not be fair when challenged in a court of law.

The fact that they are a private company is all the more reason to try and keep them honest.

by mattman73 on Jul 25, 2008 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It may not be fair per se…but it’s a smart business move on Zuffa’s part…in term’s of the champion clause or what have you. I mean if you were Dana White…would you want your champion leaving your organization with your title/brand name going to fight for another promotion?

http://tharealness.wordpress.com/

by Tha Realness on Jul 25, 2008 1:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree it’s a great move on the UFC’s part. But with an automatic renewal clause it gives them an unfair tool in the negotiation process. Because they know if all else fails they can just let it automatically renew under the same conditions as the original contract. Now if it calls for a certain percentage pay increase with that automatic renewal that would be fair to the fighter I wouldn’t have a problem with it. But the rumors I have heard says it stays under the same conditions of the original contract meaning no pay increase.

See this is the point I was trying to make with the post. I feel like all the time I get involved in a discussion that I don’t know all the facts on. How can we have an intelligent discussion on the merits of a UFC contract if we have never seen one?

My hope is to motivate someone to post a UFC contract so that we the fans can have intelligent discussions about them and decide if we want to support a company that is subjecting it’s fighters to unfair employment contracts.

by mattman73 on Jul 25, 2008 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Article 23.1 of the Zuffa Standard Contract….. Confidentiality clause…..AKA known as the Zuffa counsel will sue your ass into oblivion Clause…. that’s why you aren’t going to see the standard contract freely floating around…..

by robnashville on Jul 25, 2008 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was another rumor I had heard about is they have a confidentiality clause.

Well then that leads to my plea for all the fine MMA reporters to start asking why those clauses are in there and to make Dana defend them as legitimate every time he steps in front of a microphone.

To all the fighters out there please never sign another contract with a confidentiality clause in it.

Because if your getting screwed how do you tell anyone your getting screwed if your not allowed to talk about it?

To me the confidentiality clause can be used to silence a fighter from complaining about all the other unfair clauses in the contract.

For example GSP can’t come out and say he hates the automatic renewal clause if he is champion in his contract because then he is breaking the confidentiality clause and they will sue his ass.

That isn’t fair. Please to all the media out there make the UFC defend these horrible business practices. Don’t let Dana get away with saying we don’t talk about contracts. Every question in every press conference should be about that till the UFC fixes it.

That is what would happen in football or baseball.

by mattman73 on Jul 25, 2008 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In MMA media, 40% of folks want access and are willing to trade their journalistic credibility for it (iole). they rock the boat and they get cut off from access….... another 40% would like to get a job in the industry like and will do anything they can to give the UFC positive coverage in order to make those dreams come true (Thomas Gerbasi writes for the ufc website now but used to work for a Vegas paper…think he was asking the tough questions back in the day?..anyone doubt that Iole will be working for the UFC at some point?).......20% actually take their role as a reporter seriously and ask tough questions….those are the folks that don’t get credentialed to the UFC shows in the first place….Josh Gross would be an example Ivan Trembow would be another. If the questions do get asked then Dana will say I don’t talk money or that’s private info….. who gets credentialed and comped…... some guys from a general sports blog who are noobs at mma and would know a tough question if it smacked them in the face

look at ESPN…they caved to adding Florian/Mir to their MMALive crew in order to get UFC footage….... what kind of journalistic way is that to do business….

by robnashville on Jul 25, 2008 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don’t crush all my hopes and dreams.

I realize those things exist and I’m probably once again unrealistically hoping for the perfect MMA world to emerge to quickly.

But I just wanted to get those thoughts out there and hopefully somebody will think I made some sense and it will further the process of getting to the perfect MMA world I keep thinking of.

by mattman73 on Jul 25, 2008 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hope i didn’t come off as slagging you…. i totally agree with the sentiments of your post by the way, i’m just disgusted with the nature of most of the media in relation to how they cover the ufc…..i’m glad to see you care enough to want the tough questions asked and answered…... i can’t say that about a lot of the fans….a lot don’t care if the contracts are abhorrent…. they will just parrot the “well they signed the contract”, and nod their heads….

by robnashville on Jul 25, 2008 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs