UFC Merchandising Agreement - Fighters Get Scammed

[OmegaRED.]

I wouldn't sign this contract if I was a fighter in the UFC. Sherdog or some other MMA site needs to get on this and dig deeper, one source isn't enough for such a big deal.

[Athens1]

It's rough and it isn't.

While it is giving fighters a lousy cut and cutting them short in the long run, these fighters are gaining invaluable market exposure from being both in the and promoted by the UFC.

While a fighter might make, for example, ~$5,000 a year from signed autographs and selling t-shirts out of the gym (an uneducated guess,) they might make 10% of $1,000,000 that the UFC is able to sell in gear of the top fighters.

Who it really hurts are the guys whose gear doesn't sell. All of the top fighters should be happy.

[FortheLoveofMMA]

Originally Posted by Hamm

if you are willing to swallow all this shit at face value without a real inside source, and without having it explained byt someone who knows contract law then you are just another fickle sheep and nobody, especially dana White cares what you think.

edited because macedawg already handled it

[guilineseguy]

wow i never realized that zuffa and the the ufc were that unfair. those fighters are who make them their money kinda of sounds like a fast food salary if you think about it in contrast to the money let's say a mcdonalds makes to what the workers make it is probably about the same. to bad that this seems to be the new "amewrican way" just steal and steal and it is ok because the companies bi laws say it's ok

[bambambigelow]

wow...that's pretty much the exact same terms that the WWE has with their wrestlers. horrible

[feyrerm]

If the deal is that bad no big stars will sign on to it. At least if they have a manager worth a damn. So it will likely be TUF guys and thats about it. That may be enough to sell the dolls, but I am sure they want the champions and I doubt they will sigh a deal that is as bad as it is described here. No one even the TUF fighters would be likely to sign away their likeness forever.

[OmegaRED.]

Sorry, but these "should be happy" arguments are retarded. It's condescending towards the fighters and treats them like lower class athletes. A fighter should be entitled to the same percentages as other sports.

No UFC fighter gear will ever sell as much as NBA or NFL gear and that's why it's all the more important they receive a fair percentage of the profits on par with other pro athletes.

[gypsysoul420]

Originally Posted by FortheLoveofMMA

Billion-Dollar UFC Enters Merchandising in Big Way: Good Deal For Fighters? | The Official Blog of the MMAFA

Marketing Rights Agreement Highlights

· In exchange for granting Zuffa the Merchandise Rights, a fighter is entitled to (i) ten percent (10%) of gross revenue for sales of Licensed Merchandise completed by Zuffa, and (ii) twenty percent (20%) of gross revenue for royalties and/or license payments received from third parties.

· The Agreement grants Zuffa an exclusive license prohibiting even the sale of autographed photographs!

· The Agreement operates to strip even the fighter himself of the opportunity to profit on his own Identity in the marketplace. Not only are fighters being asked to sign an agreement that grants likeness rights to Zuffa on a worldwide, exclusive basis (to the exclusion, incredibly, of even the fighter himself), the term of the Agreement is forever.

· The term of the Agreement lasts forever, and the Marketing Rights for fighter are held by Zuffa even after a fighter is cut!

· The Agreement requires a fighter to make up to Six (6) appearances per year, and each of the appearances may be required of the fighter for no additional compensation.

· The Agreement contains no audit rights which would provide a mechanism for a fighter to enforce the terms of the Agreement and to verify payments are fair.

· The Agreement enables Zuffa to divert royalty and licensing payments by shifting income that could be classified as a license or royalty fee entitling a fighter to payment, into a payment that is Zuffa’s income alone.

· The Agreement requires a fighter to warrant that all permissions have been obtained to utilize third party marks and copyrights.

· The Agreement does not offer any royalty or license payments for video games and DVDs.

· The Agreement prohibits a fighter from not only using Licensed Marks of Zuffa, but also mere words alone!

· The Agreement, in short, is absurd for fighters, and drastically impacts their marketing and revenue producing ability throughout, and even after their athletic careers.


full article here



The full Merchandising Agreement Zuffa is passing sounds largely like an indentured servant contract. When will we, as fans and fighters, no longer tolerate such obvious detriments to our beloved sport?

If anyone has a chance to read this, please do, and let me know your thoughts.

I'd like to know how this affects you in ANY way whatsoever...If the fighters sign on the lines...they dont need a tool like you to protect them...

[ObnoxiousHotdog]

Is this entire thread a troll job?
What the fuck is MMAFA??? Is this anything close to a credible source?

It's a fucking blog!!! How can any of you take this as a credible place for these details for the agreement?

Don't you think some of the other major MMA news resources would have reported on the deal??

My God, you guys are just looking for shit to bitch about. MMAFA.tw.blog has one post and no details about anything.

TS hasnt posted anything else other then this thread.

How come its so easy for you all to believe anything anti-UFC?

[Macedawgg]

Thank you for the post gypsoul--though I must admit, do you not see the irony of your comment?

You are protecting whom from the likes of me?