UFC Merchandising Agreement - Fighters Get Scammed

[FortheLoveofMMA]

Originally Posted by Ulio

Thats why the fighters need an union.

i wouldnt use the term 'union'. more like an association.

[johnsq316]

I'm typically a UFC defender (check my post history), but those terms seem rather harsh (and some of them would have difficulty in a court of law).

On the other hand (sadly), they aren't that different from what a lot of recording artists sign away. The American Idol contestants essentially sign their lives away to 19 Entertainment, which is rationalized on a similar basis (i.e. you wouldn't get any of this money if it wasn't for Idol/UFC).

Let's wait and see what the fighters actually end up signing. This is clearly the opening offer, which a fighter is under no obligation to sign. Some people will probably sign it without negotiating, others won't. The offer may/will change drastically if none of the fighters (or at least few of the key guys) opt in. They aren't going to want to release an action figure series without Liddell, Rampage and GSP (or whichever top guys you want to name).

Another point: currently fighters get no DVD or Video Game revenue, so this is all new money. If it wasn't for the exclusive nature of the agreement I wouldn't really have an issue with it. As this is written, it would curtail the business for Cage Fighter/Affliction/Warrior Wear because fighters wouldn't be able to have a signature shirt (by my interpretation of what the union guy is saying).

[Mrs. Garrett]

Death to the UFC.

If fighters were smart they wouldn't sign the contract for the marketing right. Fighters will be leaving the UFC in droves. And Dana will stick with all his Tuffers and sell propaganda that these fighters are the world's best. He'll saqy all the other fighters are washed up and don't belong in the UFC. I think we all know Dana/UFC's act by now.

[Suqleg]

In exchange the fighters will be making more money than they could ever have made on their own. Do you know how many toys and posters and hats and shirts and mittens and underwear and every fucking thing you can sell...In every fucking Walmart! This is not excluding fighters this is bringing them into the giant corporate machine. They are free to give their autograph away they just cannot proffit on it without sharing.

[Macedawgg]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Garrett

Death to the UFC.

If fighters were smart they wouldn't sign the contract for the marketing right. Fighters will be leaving the UFC in droves. And Dana will stick with all his Tuffers and sell propaganda that these fighters are the world's best. He'll saqy all the other fighters are washed up and don't belong in the UFC. I think we all know Dana/UFC's act by now.

This isn't a scripted reality show, or "athletic entertainment" with scripted plot lines. This is a sport, and these guys are athletes. They would make far mar if they assign the licensing rights to a group they control and direct.

[VeNoM_2K5]

What's the consequence if you don't sign this agreement?

I can see a lot of fighters sitting down and thinking "nope..." to this.

[Salohcin]

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

They shouldn't have to rely on endorsements to pay their bills and make a living. The organization they fight for and bring money in for should be paying the majority of their paycheck.

[johnsic]

No wonder UFC stars leave all the time. I wouldnt wonder if GSP and Chuck would leave soon too.

[ShootFighter09]

Affliction actually gives the fighters a percentage of the fighters shirts they sell. Every UFC event where the fighters would wear their shirts, the shirts would sell out. Chucks shirts have sold over 100K.

[killerbay]

I would like to know how much money the UFC makes each year and what percentage goes to the fighters, I would bet less than 25%.