The business of being a Fighter (long read). - Page 7

RemoWilliams · 03-17-2008, 05:14 PM

What MMA has is a lack of professional management for fighters. I train under fighters who were a pros in the 80s before there was what is called MMA, and they says even then you had someone looking out for your best interests. They made money, they prospered if they were good. Good Management.

Today, you have nonsense. Fighters who put it all on the line for peanuts, yet do not have the expertise to tell the promoter to shove it.

Fighters (if given the right representation), simply don't have to fight in the opinion of my trainers. Pay what they're owed, dont fight if you dont get it.

The Fighters hold all the cards. It's poor management why they dont make more. Most fighters dont know any better. They take what's offered instead of telling promoters to shove it. I fight for this or else. In the 80's fighters told promoters that if they wanted to have a fight you better pay me XYZ.

That's why guys like benny the Jet are still rich and Don Wilson, and Joe Lewis, and Chuck Norris.

MMAftfw · 03-28-2008, 10:18 AM

Great article man, good advice.

EASYTAPPINS · 04-13-2008, 12:14 AM

Nice post i will keep all stated points in mind!!

Puppettamer · 04-19-2008, 11:14 AM

good read thanks for takeing the time to write it

super_orr · 04-19-2008, 11:21 AM

well done.

JAderholt · 04-21-2008, 10:19 AM

Great read my friend. I've had several amatuer fights, and most of the promoters worked really well with me. But, on one independent show in TN, where it was illegal, held this show anyway. I guess he made enough profit to pay his legal expenses and still come out way ahead. Anyway, I was supposed to fight a high school wrestler, and I prepared for that for about 3 weeks. On the day of the weigh-in, I found out they changed my opponent to an undefeated local guy, who is an undefeated pro now. They didn't inform me of this change, or ask me if I still wanted the fight. I lost this fight. I trained to fight a wrestler, and this guy was a very good kickboxer with excellent jits.

He choked me out at the beginning of the 2nd. First round was mine, though. I landed some good shots, and got a slam. But really, he just out-worked me, and had more experience.

Your post was very helpful though, thanks.

PHD_in_8_Limbs · 05-04-2008, 05:07 PM

That was good info.

My dad (one of my trainers) was telling me the same thing a few months ago.

One of our friends, you could say, trains Vitor and Anderson when they're in Cali, and he wanted me to come out to spar with Vitor. The first thing he asked was how much was he going to pay me?

Great move on his part. I wanted to spar, but like you said, be the champ, don't help him.

MrCoffea · 05-04-2008, 05:19 PM

this all seems like common sense to me

I'd be scared of fighters going into the business and not already knowing what you posted about

**King Kabuki** · 05-04-2008, 05:26 PM

Plenty of Fighters who posted in here stated they'd learned a little something. There are actually not very many who really get into understanding the functions of the game. Many just want to fight, not negotiate.

MrCoffea · 05-04-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Kabuki

Plenty of Fighters who posted in here stated they'd learned a little something. There are actually not very many who really get into understanding the functions of the game. Many just want to fight, not negotiate.

I'm in law school right now and I'm hoping to specialize in contract/entertainment law for the sole purpose of representing MMA fighters later on and helping them out as much as I can.

I hate hearing stories of fighters getting screwed or having shady representation