UFC’s Own Lawyers State Fighters Should Only Expect a High Revenue Share If They “Also Had a Union”.

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ErikMagraken

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Apr 9, 2015
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Originally published here - UFC’s Own Lawyers State Fighters Should Only Expect a High Revenue Share If They “Also Had a Union”.
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As recently discussed, there have been varying efforts over the years to organize UFC and other professional MMA fighters. Project Spearhead is the latest to enter the fray.

The UFC has taken time over the years trying to persuade fighters that unionization is not in the fighters interest. In a candid admission, however, Zuffa’s own lawyers filed an argument in defence of the anti-trust lawsuit the UFC is facing noting it is unfair to compare UFC fighter revenue shares with other pro sports because other pro sports are unionized.

For background on the latest Court filing you can click here to read Paul Gift’s summary.

The fighters’ expert witness presented evidence of athlete revenue shares across major sports noting the difference in the UFC landscape. The UFC’s lawyers objected to this noting it is unfair to compare the revenue percentage fighters receive in the UFC compared to the big 4 sports leagues (NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB) because those athletes are organized and that increased their wages.

Lucas Middlebrook, the labor lawyer doing the legal heavy lifting for Project Spearhead posted this snippet from Zuffa’s court filing –





Middlebrook made the following observation of just how brazen the UFC legal admission is:

 

RaginCajun

The Reigning Undisputed Monsters Tournament Champ
Oct 25, 2015
36,970
93,842
Is it possible that the fans care more about this issue than the actual fighters?
Something just does not add up and it hasn't for years.
The fighters are either getting paid a great deal more than they claim or they truly are willing to fight for peanuts just for the glory.
 

aghof

an person
Apr 15, 2015
2,037
3,814
NFL, NBA, MLB all unionized and somehow the owners didn't go broke, although I guess it contributed to the mom-and-pop owners getting priced out of the game eventually.

Yeah, this is a different structure businesswise, but I don't see why this wouldn't make things better (for fighters, anyway, and of course that's if people who implement it don't manage to screw it up somehow)
 
Last edited:

Ted Williams' head

It's freezing in here!
Sep 23, 2015
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Originally published here - UFC’s Own Lawyers State Fighters Should Only Expect a High Revenue Share If They “Also Had a Union”.
_______________________________________________________________________________

As recently discussed, there have been varying efforts over the years to organize UFC and other professional MMA fighters. Project Spearhead is the latest to enter the fray.

The UFC has taken time over the years trying to persuade fighters that unionization is not in the fighters interest. In a candid admission, however, Zuffa’s own lawyers filed an argument in defence of the anti-trust lawsuit the UFC is facing noting it is unfair to compare UFC fighter revenue shares with other pro sports because other pro sports are unionized.

For background on the latest Court filing you can click here to read Paul Gift’s summary.

The fighters’ expert witness presented evidence of athlete revenue shares across major sports noting the difference in the UFC landscape. The UFC’s lawyers objected to this noting it is unfair to compare the revenue percentage fighters receive in the UFC compared to the big 4 sports leagues (NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB) because those athletes are organized and that increased their wages.

Lucas Middlebrook, the labor lawyer doing the legal heavy lifting for Project Spearhead posted this snippet from Zuffa’s court filing –





Middlebrook made the following observation of just how brazen the UFC legal admission is:


They know they're crooks
 

kneeblock

Drapetomaniac
Apr 18, 2015
12,435
23,026
Is it possible that the fans care more about this issue than the actual fighters?
Something just does not add up and it hasn't for years.
The fighters are either getting paid a great deal more than they claim or they truly are willing to fight for peanuts just for the glory.
This is what I think is happening. Many fighters have gotten the backroom bonuses and feel like they don't want to rock the boat. But being unionized does not preclude backroom bonuses necessarily. It would just have to be spelled out in the contract under what circumstances they could be awarded.
 

FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
3,959
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Is it possible that the fans care more about this issue than the actual fighters?
Something just does not add up and it hasn't for years.
The fighters are either getting paid a great deal more than they claim or they truly are willing to fight for peanuts just for the glory.
Fighters received 13% of revenue in 2015.
Doubt it changed much since.
That was about $80m for that year.
 

mmadotcomisufcdotcom

Well-Known Member
Oct 26, 2015
887
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Fighters received 13% of revenue in 2015.
Doubt it changed much since.
That was about $80m for that year.
So roughly $750 mil generated for the year. A 50/50 split would increase fighter revenue from $80 to $375 million.

At this point I personally have almost lost interest. It reminds me of addiction, if someone does not want to help themselves, no one can do the work for them.

Until these guys, and girls now, recognize that although they fight, and although camps are extremely competitive with one another, everyone is on the same team.

Professional sports have many teams, you can call the teams camps in this discussion. Professional athletes understand they may play for a team, or have a camp, but ultimately they are members of the league they play. It is the league that ensures they get treated fairly, not the camp. And as the UFC lawyers noted the league cares because they have to. The unions demand it.

So as long as fighters view each other as opponents and not teammates in the game of MMA they will keep getting their scraps. $50k bonus may seem like a lot, but ask Charles Barkley. Fighters get scraps, the amount the UFC does not care about giving away is handed out.

Just like when a person realizes an addict cannot be helped because they won't help themselves it is time to walk away and hope they find bottom and it does,not kill them. MMA fighters are killing themselves, through weight cutting, through training, in the cage in rare occurances, all to satisfy the addiction to something, training, adreniline, violence, control, etc.

It has affected my personal enjoyment of UFC fghts in particular. It is hard supporting the UFC, but is is also hard watching a guy get his dreams crushed for pennys, or suffer severe injuries that will affect them for life.

At least Bisping has been paid, but he is more an argument for organizing, as he is one of the few the UFC decided to pay, and I bet he also gof paid 1/3 his unionized value, and is happy...
 

FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
3,959
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J

So roughly $750 mil generated for the year. A 50/50 split would increase fighter revenue from $80 to $375 million.
That year was about $620m, not $750m
But UFC will never be 50% & honestly shouldn't
They are still investing in growing. No major sport paid 25% in first 15-20 yrs
But they could do 25% & make everyone happier & still make major bank
 

Ryann Von Doom

The Man
Jan 28, 2015
5,896
6,676
When are fighters going to wake up?
They wont. It’ll be like the prowrestling union talk. There will always be fighters willing to take the place of higher paid ones stalling out for money. That’s been what’s happenig for years and zuffa llc would prey on that... play fighters against fighter in more than just the octagon.
 

FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
3,959
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They wont. It’ll be like the prowrestling union talk. There will always be fighters willing to take the place of higher paid ones stalling out for money. That’s been what’s happenig for years and zuffa llc would prey on that... play fighters against fighter in more than just the octagon.
& even more-so than UFC, WWE guys are true employees
They cannot even do press without Vince approving. No endorsements, etc.
Plus they work 200+ days a year plus travel
 

FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
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Where did you get this info, and what do you mean by revenue? Ppv + gate? Tv deals? Merchandise?
Revenue = what UFC made that year in total

Unlike what some tell you, UFC does file every year to creditors, etc.
Good financial reporters like Meltzer & Nash get the info.

People thinking everything is secret bc they are not public are not versed on the subject at all.
 

aghof

an person
Apr 15, 2015
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excellent discussion, guys - stuff like this is what keeps me lurking here and making the occasional wise-ass post here and there.
 
Nov 21, 2015
9,140
12,443
Fighters received 13% of revenue in 2015.
Doubt it changed much since.
That was about $80m for that year.
13% seems pretty low. That said I'm starting to care less and less
about figters getting a bad deal. I mean they never organize themselves
and do anything about it. Its almost like the girl that keeps going back
to her boyfriend that beats her up.

At some point you get tired of caring
 

FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
3,959
6,760
13% seems pretty low. That said I'm starting to care less and less
about figters getting a bad deal. I mean they never organize themselves
and do anything about it. Its almost like the girl that keeps going back
to her boyfriend that beats her up.

At some point you get tired of caring
No argument it is low
But 2015 financials proved two things

1. Going by AC reports for fighter pay is completely foolish
2. UFC could afford to pay more than that amount & still make a killing

In 2015 before fighter pay there was a little over $230m after all other expenses
They could have paid about 19% of rev to fighters & split that $230 amount

That is fair to a growing company
 
Nov 21, 2015
9,140
12,443
No argument it is low
But 2015 financials proved two things

1. Going by AC reports for fighter pay is completely foolish
2. UFC could afford to pay more than that amount & still make a killing

In 2015 before fighter pay there was a little over $230m after all other expenses
They could have paid about 19% of rev to fighters & split that $230 amount

That is fair to a growing company
I have to admit WME sure fooled me. I woulda bet the the farm
that the Fertitas sold them a lemon and then got out of dodge.

The numbers speak differently though. Looks like they have
removed the correlation between great fight cards and profits.

The only people losing are the fighters and the fans