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

[FrankieNYC]

Ya I'm doubtful it gets going too

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

They cannot even get 30% to sign a card saying they want to look into the IC/employee thing further.
The fighters obviously do not want a union
If they don't, I'm tired of pulling for it

I been part of a great union (SAG) but seen some shitty ones. So I am neither pro/con, but I appreciate her efforts.
@Wild also knows I was in contact with Leslie regarding publicized financial info & to do an interview from a strictly financial side to further her cause

If the collective fighters don't care, neither should we any longer.

Sad, but true

 

[FrankieNYC]

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

Viacom is looking over Coker's shoulder more now than ever

 

[Chromium]

They cannot even get 30% to sign a card saying they want to look into the IC/employee thing further.
The fighters obviously do not want a union
If they don't, I'm tired of pulling for it

I been part of a great union (SAG) but seen some shitty ones. So I am neither pro/con, but I appreciate her efforts.
@Wild also knows I was in contact with Leslie regarding publicized financial info & to do an interview from a strictly financial side to further her cause

If the collective fighters don't care, neither should we any longer.

Sad, but true

Do we actually have any idea what percentage have signed a card? For all I know it could be over 30% already and she's just trying to convince some people who are on the fence. Do you have inside info on this or was there something I missed?

 

[Blubba Jenkins]

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

How can she serve on the board of UFC & Bellator fighter association, if she does not fight in either organization?

I guess it's possible, but she should step down & let a UFC or Bellator fighter replace her.

***CRICKETS*** waiting for fighters lining up to replace her.

 

[FrankieNYC]

Do we actually have any idea what percentage have signed a card? For all I know it could be over 30% already and she's just trying to convince some people who are on the fence. Do you have inside info on this or was there something I missed?

End of March they were publicly saying "all we need is 30%, please sign".
The second they get 30%, they could start the process.
I been out of loop last three weeks, so didn't follow it as closely as far as hard-sell (or not)
But if they get 30%, they can begin and it would be silly to hold off for no reason.

I'm amazed that 30% don't care enough to look into it. They could still say no to a union

 

[FrankieNYC]

How can she serve on the board of UFC & Bellator fighter association, if she does not fight in either organization?

I guess it's possible, but she should step down & let a UFC or Bellator fighter replace her.

***CRICKETS*** waiting for fighters lining up to replace her.

She could still be on the board.
Others had Rebney & Boras who are not fighters
Couture is not active.
Her experience(s) is still valid

 

[sparkuri]

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

That notion reminds me of when Fedor's Strikeforce contract ended.
UFC pushed out headlines to all the major sports media outlets to parrot, reading "Fedor Emelianenko cut from UFC roster after knockout loss to Dan Henderson".

 

[Ted Williams' head]

They cannot even get 30% to sign a card saying they want to look into the IC/employee thing further.
The fighters obviously do not want a union
If they don't, I'm tired of pulling for it

If I was a fighter, even if I was "guaranteed" to remain anonymous to sign, I still wouldn't because I'd be afraid it would somehow come out.
We know that if you run afoul of a certain bald guy, your career prospects are going to drop precipitously.

 

[Dick Niaz]

They cannot even get 30% to sign a card saying they want to look into the IC/employee thing further.
The fighters obviously do not want a union
If they don't, I'm tired of pulling for it

I been part of a great union (SAG) but seen some shitty ones. So I am neither pro/con, but I appreciate her efforts.
@Wild also knows I was in contact with Leslie regarding publicized financial info & to do an interview from a strictly financial side to further her cause

If the collective fighters don't care, neither should we any longer.

Sad, but true

What is your SAG card for, if you don’t mind me asking? (Sorry if this is common knowledge and I’m just out of the loop).

 

[FrankieNYC]

What is your SAG card for, if you don’t mind me asking? (Sorry if this is common knowledge and I’m just out of the loop).

Not at all
I used to be an actor
I done several commercials & 3 network TV series (non regular)
It was fun, but I hated going on auditions and moved on 4-5 years ago

 

[FrankieNYC]

If I was a fighter, even if I was "guaranteed" to remain anonymous to sign, I still wouldn't because I'd be afraid it would somehow come out.
We know that if you run afoul of a certain bald guy, your career prospects are going to drop precipitously.

I wonder how much that plays into things?
it certainly could
I mean Cerrone, Cain had no issues when they spoke in favor of their union attempt.

 

[MovinOn]

Not at all
I used to be an actor
I done several commercials & 3 network TV series (non regular)
It was fun, but I hated going on auditions and moved on 4-5 years ago

You are probably familiar with some of Frankie's work:

 

[Wild]

They cannot even get 30% to sign a card saying they want to look into the IC/employee thing further.
The fighters obviously do not want a union
If they don't, I'm tired of pulling for it

I been part of a great union (SAG) but seen some shitty ones. So I am neither pro/con, but I appreciate her efforts.
@Wild also knows I was in contact with Leslie regarding publicized financial info & to do an interview from a strictly financial side to further her cause

If the collective fighters don't care, neither should we any longer.

Sad, but true

Fully agree. I’ve been beating the union drum for 3 years. If they don’t care, then why should we.

 

[FrankieNYC]

I just realized they paid her "win" money as well.
Very weird since they never do that.
That will set a precedent.

 

[Onetrickpony]

I just realized they paid her "win" money as well.
Very weird since they never do that.
That will set a precedent.

That if you refuse to fight an overweight opponent and it is the last fight on your contract you get your win money too?

 

[FrankieNYC]

Fully agree. I’ve been beating the union drum for 3 years. If they don’t care, then why should we.

It is silly
They could still vote against a union if it gets that far.
Fighters are their own worst enemy.
I think I posted this here before, but I was contacted by two ex-UFC champs (around the sale time) regarding how I knew UFC only paid 13% in 2015.
They said the numbers are a secret.
I explained they file yearly to creditors and those numbers could be found & they were shocked.
I mean if I knew two years ago (some guy on SD) how could they & their team not?
I do this for fun.
They do it for a living.

 

[Enock-O-Lypse Now!]

This is a good lesson to be learned by Leslie ....

No matter who you are and how good you are...you are replaceable -- that can be said in any working environment where a company has the option to pick and choose who works for them. It's simply business.


But as a life lesson, hopefully this lights a fire under Leslie's ass and she goes on to become memorable dominant fighter.

Personally I'd like to see all the "Outcasts" go to Japan's Rizin and help build not only the organization but their own career as well.

Best of luck to Ms. Smith, I hope to see her do big things outside the UFC.

 

[FrankieNYC]

You are probably familiar with some of Frankie's work:

lol
I wish, that is a few hundred grand for Old spice guy alone

 

[FrankieNYC]

I just realized they paid her "win" money as well.
Very weird since they never do that.
That will set a precedent.

To add:

View: https://twitter.com/arielhelwani/status/987475408735100929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs9e.github.io%2Fiframe%2Ftwitter.min.html%23987475408735100929

 

[Onetrickpony]

To add:

View: https://twitter.com/arielhelwani/status/987475408735100929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs9e.github.io%2Fiframe%2Ftwitter.min.html%23987475408735100929

That is absolutely retarded, at the very least he should be paid all of his show money. The fighters need to get stipulations for weight issues in their contracts.

 

[Dat Pre-HollyHolm Ronda $]

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

Big John was never my friend - BLAF


PS - Neither was Stitch

 

[sparkuri]

It is silly
They could still vote against a union if it gets that far.
Fighters are their own worst enemy.
I think I posted this here before, but I was contacted by two ex-UFC champs (around the sale time) regarding how I knew UFC only paid 13% in 2015.
They said the numbers are a secret.
I explained they file yearly to creditors and those numbers could be found & they were shocked.
I mean if I knew two years ago (some guy on SD) how could they & their team not?
I do this for fun.
They do it for a living.

2015?
It was on public forums since 2012.
The reason fans should care about unions, is because it encourages fighters to take a leap.
OF COURSE fighters want a union/association.
What exactly that looks like is unsure, so they're going with what they know.
And they're going with the UFC because everyone's scared to put their foot forward.
What would be helpful, is if fans were fans of fighters and not organizations.

 

[Chromium]

Maybe relevant:

 

[Dick Niaz]

Maybe relevant:

Can’t argue with that logic. Both parties are entitled to their reasonable positions.

 

[Dat Pre-HollyHolm Ronda $]

Leslie's Project Spearhead Clarification:

I think you guys don't fully understand what Project Spearhead is about.
It is not to form a Union. It was simply a Project to determine what UFC
Fighters legal status actually is. Are they employees or are they contractors.

The Project was only to determine which of those was the case.

Then they could proceed with trying to organize as a union (if determined to be employees)
or a commission (if determined to be contractors)

That is unless I dont actually understand the Project myself