UFC Merchandising Agreement - Fighters Get Scammed

[ChaseM]

Originally Posted by DNA4421

im a realist and admire a strong business....mma in the US would have died if not for ZUffa.....

Zuffa and the fighters

[Ulio]

Thats why the fighters need an union.

[method115]

Over 200+ fighters have had no problems signing this contract and there are a ton more that would not a have a problem doing it. So it must not be such a big deal.

[Shonuff22]

It is a double edged sword in my opinion. Each fighter doesn't have to sign the contract, but if they want a chance to be a super star and be the next Chuck Lidell then they have to. The UFC is taking a chance on up and coming fighters, and weeding them out like cattle if they don't make the grade. But that contract is take it or leave it and if you leave it there will be 100's of guys right behind you to take a shot at the American dream.

I am by no means siding with Dana and the UFC but make no mistake that contract is a chance at greatness. If those fighters sign a 3 fight deal and every fight they fight Blows, the UFC doesn't get there money back.(Please correct me if I'm wrong)

I think it's up to the fighter to 1st put on good fights and 2nd win those match ups. We all know that MMA fighters get totally screwed, im not arguing this but if being a fighter is the life you chose then you have to know that until you are "the show" you gonna get paid like an opener. It wasn't until Tito's last contract that he negotiated "Likeness rights" for himself and he WAS the UFC for a long time and Dana still wanted to screw him.

Just my 2 cents

[spid3yo]

Example:

UFC made Chuck Liddell, he didn't make the UFC

If he leaves, he can't use the name "iceman" because UFC created that and it's their property. He also can't make his own DVD with UFC material on it, because that also belongs to them.

If the UFC DIDN'T have these rules then they would have fighters quitting every week.

[LunchMoney]

Tito started his own brand in which he makes the profit & which is
what the fighters should do instead of signing this contract.
These contracts are getting almost as bad as record companys.

[karat3]

It's a good read and anyone who signs that contract must be retarded or in love with dana.

[justinoppa]

Good article and good find!!!

The part that got me the most was the fact that the fighters can't even say Zuffa marked properties. For instance, the article outlined that if GSP represented himself in a factual way by saying "Georges St. Pierre, the UFC fighter", that would be a violation according to this contract.

I don't want to use slavery but this is economy at its best. Maximize profit, both short and LONG run

[GogogadgetPlata]

Originally Posted by DNA4421

dont bite the hand that feeds you....where were the fighters before the zuffa marketing machine ....fighting for PRIDE,WFA,BoDog,M1...old WEC.....these fighters are becoming millionaires.........Zuffa is making millions but is also spending millions getting marketing and media attention....the more money the UFC makes the more money the fighters make on endorsements

great point end of thread.

[Croatia_K1]

This sucks ass