Leslie Smith no longer with the UFC; paid show and win in AC for last fight on contract

[member 603]

That's all true, but I'm pretty sure the UFC has the right to release/not resign any fighter they choose, don't they?

I'm not saying Leslie did anything wrong, but she had to expect this.

They can at any time terminate their agreement yes, but IF Leslie fulfilled her end of her fight agreement, and her opponent didn't, by AC rules, the fighter who made weight cannot be forced to fight. The promoter can offer, pay additional money, the fighter who missed weight gets penalized... But Leslie signed a contract agreement to fight at the agreed upon weight class, and doesn't have to accept the fight..... Now if the UFC wants to cut her for her opponent not making weight, I'm sure that Leslie has a case.... That's why I put the question to our resident legal expert

 

[Blubba Jenkins]

They can at any time terminate their agreement yes, but IF Leslie fulfilled her end of her fight agreement, and her opponent didn't, by AC rules, the fighter who made weight cannot be forced to fight. The promoter can offer, pay additional money, the fighter who missed weight gets penalized... But Leslie signed a contract agreement to fight at the agreed upon weight class, and doesn't have to accept the fight..... Now if the UFC wants to cut her for her opponent not making weight, I'm sure that Leslie has a case.... That's why I put the question to our resident legal expert

She wasn't cut because her opponent missed weight.

She finished her contract. End of story

Leslie herself says she's a free agent now.

 

[member 603]

They can't force her to fight, but she can't force them to renew her contract.

She made a dumb move. Now she is no longer a UFC fighter or a Bellator fighter & will have to be replaced at Spearhead by someone who is. She's f$cked!

You're right, she can't... I think her point of contention is that she either A) fulfilled her contract by making weight, therefore she'll require a new one if they want to rebook, or B) her contract isn't up because the fight didn't take place, therefore get her a new fight and promote her better since that's their role.

 

[MMAHAWK]

These are the people that you are quoting. Very hard to take some of your posts seriously.

 

[Ted Williams' head]

You're right, she can't... I think her point of contention is that she either A) fulfilled her contract by making weight, therefore she'll require a new one if they want to rebook, or B) her contract isn't up because the fight didn't take place, therefore get her a new fight and promote her better since that's their role.

Seems on both points she doesn't have any recourse it seems, although I'm not a lawyer. If A is true, both parties fulfilled their contracts and the UFC doesn't have to resign her. If B is true, the UFC can cut anyone whenever they want so what can you do?

Either way, it highlights the need for a union or some kind of association. Leslie is coming off two wins (I believe) so it is very obvious that her being cut is a retaliation for speaking out against the UFC and/or refusing the fight.

It's a shame that a fighter would be forced into not giving a negative opinion about the UFC, or taking a fight with an overweight opponent.

 

[Gay For Longo]

Hold on
Ladd only missed by 1.8lbs?

Sucks she didn't accept the fight
That was going to be good

Fuck

Hopefully Leslie goes to invicta but I doubt it because they are with UFC
Maybe bellator?

 

[yuushi]

Why wouldn't she take the fight and the extra money?

 

[Gay For Longo]

I understand Leslie not taking it, Espcially with her pushing so hard for a union

The union rep in me wants to support her and send a message

The fan in me wants to see that fucking fight

 

[Gay For Longo]

Why wouldn't she take the fight and the extra money?

She's pushing for a union
This would be a major problem if a union was already in the UFC because one fighter did not live up to the contract. with a union the fight would not happen, it would automatically be called off and Leslie would be compensated accordingly


This is a message to promoters and fighter of what the fighters rights can and should be

 

[yuushi]

She's pushing for a union
This would be a major problem if a union was already in the UFC because one fighter did not live up to the contract. with a union the fight would not happen, it would automatically be called off and Leslie would be compensated accordingly


This is a message to promoters and fighter of what the fighters rights can and should be

Worked out really well for her huh?

 

[KWingJitsu]

They can at any time terminate their agreement yes, but IF Leslie fulfilled her end of her fight agreement, and her opponent didn't, by AC rules, the fighter who made weight cannot be forced to fight. The promoter can offer, pay additional money, the fighter who missed weight gets penalized... But Leslie signed a contract agreement to fight at the agreed upon weight class, and doesn't have to accept the fight..... Now if the UFC wants to cut her for her opponent not making weight, I'm sure that Leslie has a case.... That's why I put the question to our resident legal expert

Finally, an intelligent response....

 

[Dick Niaz]

Leslie just threw a dolly through a bus window. This is getting ridiculous.

 

[Gay For Longo]

Worked out really well for her huh?

Depends on your perspective but personally I think it worked out ok
She most likely wasn't going to be resigned anyways
With the way she handled This, she got paid her show and win, received no damage from a fight, was able to send a message publically about something she has been trying to make people aware of, and lands up in the same position (she may have actually lost and received less money) she would have if she did take the fight

Everything depends on perspective

 

[Dick Niaz]

Depends on your perspective but personally I think it worked out ok
She most likely wasn't going to be resigned anyways
With the way she handled This, she got paid her show and win, received no damage from a fight, was able to send a message publically about something she has been trying to make people aware of, and lands up in the same position (she may have actually lost and received less money) she would have if she did take the fight

Everything depends on perspective

Totally agree. She used the opportunity to martyr herself and prove a point towards the cause she is trying to champion. I don't fault her or the UFC here.

 

[Gay For Longo]

They can at any time terminate their agreement yes, but IF Leslie fulfilled her end of her fight agreement, and her opponent didn't, by AC rules, the fighter who made weight cannot be forced to fight. The promoter can offer, pay additional money, the fighter who missed weight gets penalized... But Leslie signed a contract agreement to fight at the agreed upon weight class, and doesn't have to accept the fight..... Now if the UFC wants to cut her for her opponent not making weight, I'm sure that Leslie has a case.... That's why I put the question to our resident legal expert

Good question but I don't think this is a wrongful termination case

She doesn't really have a case for wrongful termination imo because everything was fulfilled and even she had come out publically earlier this week that the company wasn't behind, which imo shows that they most likely would not have resigned her anyways

This could be another thing they use to promote the union, letting other fighters know that there will be writing in the collective bargaining agreement dealing with this exact situation


It's coming off that I'm very pro-union and I'm really not, I just have many years of experience dealing with unions
I find unions very easy to be corrupted and personally found myself fighting for workers rights against the fucking union

They can be extremely beneficial

 

[Silverball]

View: https://twitter.com/JohnMcCarthyMMA/status/987443023687569409

 

[yuushi]

Depends on your perspective but personally I think it worked out ok
She most likely wasn't going to be resigned anyways
With the way she handled This, she got paid her show and win, received no damage from a fight, was able to send a message publically about something she has been trying to make people aware of, and lands up in the same position (she may have actually lost and received less money) she would have if she did take the fight

Everything depends on perspective

It only really works out for her if the union actually gains traction

Given the history of unions in other combat sports (or lack thereof), I don't really see that happening.

 

[Kingtony87]

She was not cut. Her contract was fulfilled and her business with the Ufc has ended.

 

[La Paix]

She was not cut. Her contract was fulfilled and her business with the Ufc has ended.

I'm not saying she deaerdes it at all but

 

[Gay For Longo]

It only really works out for her if the union actually gains traction

Given the history of unions in other combat sports (or lack thereof), I don't really see that happening.

Ya I'm doubtful it gets going too

I respect her for standing up for what she believes in though

 

[MovinOn]

View: https://twitter.com/JohnMcCarthyMMA/status/987443023687569409

*you're

 

[Blubba Jenkins]

Even if Leslie fought and won, she was going to be cut...no matter what.
Bellator won't be interested because she's also targeting them with spearhead.

Hopefully next will be Ragin' Kajan Johnson.

 

[FrankieNYC]

odd precident to set

now you can miss weight and the pressure shifts to the fighter who made weight and heat is on them


I bet leslie asked for a pay bump to fight and didn't get it and they cutting ties


wonder if she has legal grounds to sue in some way or another(doubtful knowing WME has good lawyers)

Leslie was offered 20% of the purse & an additional $5k & said no

She obviously wanted out of her contract more than the fight
Her prerogative

 

[Rambo John J]

Leslie was offered 20% of the purse & an additional $5k & said no

She obviously wanted out of her contract more than the fight
Her prerogative

when I typed that I did not know about the spearhead thing...wierd situation all around and both fighters and WME come out looking bad IMO

I get the motives, but it looks bad.

 

[Chromium]

Scott is not the boss.

Viacom/Paramount lawyers will never allow her to sign. Too much of a liability risk.

Bellator is such a small part of their portfolio that I feel like they won't give a fuck.