There is no union or association among UFC fighters, though three groups have formed over the last several years attempting to do so.
Smith, who has fought for the UFC since 2014, had no idea how Bryant, the retired Los Angeles Lakers legend, would answer the question. Bryant was one of many speakers at the retreat, which was designed to introduce the fighters to the newly opened UFC Performance Institute as well as introduce them to the new owners, WME/IMG.
Smith told Bryant that UFC fighters were trying to form a union, and she asked him how important the NBA Players Association was for him in terms of his own contract negotiations.
When she asked the question, there was a small applause from other fighters in the room.
“It was only a smattering of applause, but it was a pretty big deal, if you ask me,” Smith said. “We were brought there by WME/IMG. It was being filmed. It was paid for by [UFC CEO] Ari [Emanuel] and the other owners. Kobe was brought there by them to speak to us. And retribution in the UFC is very real. So while it wasn’t this huge ovation, the fact that as many fighters applauded as they did is very significant to me.”
But any significance would ultimately rest on how Bryant answered the question. If he gave a pro-management answer, no one would have been emboldened, and the struggling effort by the fighters to organize and improve their situations might have completely fizzled.
Bryant, though, did not do that.
“Even us as players, we have our union meetings, and we’re normally at each other’s throats competing against each other,” Bryant said. “But we understand completely that a rising tide raises all boats. So when you guys have this union and you operate on the same page together, it will 100 percent fortify the sport and make the sport better, not just for the present but for future generations coming. It’s extremely important.”
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