Randy Couture: MMA fighters need a union and 'if there is a time, it is probably now'

[La Paix]

Randy Couture: MMA fighters need a union and 'if there is a time, it is probably now' - MMA Fighting

Mixed martial arts as a sport is in a state of flux.

The UFC is in the midst of instituting a new performance-enhancing drug policy. The promotion's groundbreaking uniform deal with Reebok begins in July. Fighters have been complaining more and more about compensation and fairness. And, perhaps above all, several former UFC fighters have filed a class-action lawsuit against the UFC, accusing the organization of being a monopoly.

Given the current climate and everything that is bubbling just beneath surface, MMA legend Randy Couturebelieves that it is the right time for the fighters to band together and start a union....

 

[Wild]

I wish all of these retired icons of the sport would quit talking about what is needed, and instead, jump in do something about it. Take the lead, take action.

 

[YammaYoMama]

It takes a special kind of person to organize a new labor movement. They're going to get shit on every step of the way and jeopardize their career.

 

[La Paix]

It takes a special kind of person to organize a new labor movement. They're going to get shit on every step of the way and jeopardize their career.

You're definetly right. You need somebody whos smart, experienced and has a good overall relationship with most dudes plus they'll need to have fuck you money.

 

[sgotwalks]

I wonder if we will see the entire organization change hands when this shit finally goes down? I can honestly see Dana and the brothers packing up their gains and calling it a day should the unions break into the UFC.

 

[D241]

seems like there's a financial opportunity to be made. A union would have a portion of the fighter's pay go towards union dues. People don't work for free.

 

[lookoutawhale]

the UFC wont let this happen. They rule through dissension. Making sure all the salaries are kept secret so no fighter knows what the other fighter is making and when they do meet to discuss Dana always calls them gossipers. They pretend the salary is kept secret because the fighters dont want it but the real reason is that they dont want fighters knowing because its bad for their business. By keeping it a secret they can sucker fighters into believing they got a good deal when it fact they were underpaid all along.

I hope they lose that lawsuit and a discovery process takes place where they have to open the book and show the world how bad they were ripping off their employees.

 

[Ryann Von Doom]

I wish all of these retired icons of the sport would quit talking about what is needed, and instead, jump in do something about it. Take the lead, take action.

Randy only gives a fuck about Randy and money. Nothing else.

 

[Ryann Von Doom]

I wonder if we will see the entire organization change hands when this shit finally goes down? I can honestly see Dana and the brothers packing up their gains and calling it a day should the unions break into the UFC.

Yep. I was working on a union but i'd end up dead and any skeletons in my closet would have been outed lol. They dont fuck around. The reason why culinary union goes after zuffa so hard? The station casinos do everything they can to keep that union out. Subtle threats to employees and retaliations for actions that would help the unions.

 

[sparkuri]

I wonder if we will see the entire organization change hands when this shit finally goes down? I can honestly see Dana and the brothers packing up their gains and calling it a day should the unions break into the UFC.

Never.
We're talking about the biggest egos and fight organization on earth.
But it would be great to change the landscape.

 

[sparkuri]

seems like there's a financial opportunity to be made. A union would have a portion of the fighter's pay go towards union dues. People don't work for free.

It wouldn't surprise me if, much like interested parties had a hand in UFC's aquisition, interested parties would be somewhere in the middle of the fighters union.

Carlos Newton would be a great President for a fighter's union.
Universally respected, highly intelligent, bleeds budo, made the lawsuit happen...

 

[Wild]

You're definetly right. You need somebody whos smart, experienced and has a good overall relationship with most dudes plus they'll need to have fuck you money.

GSP fits the bill but that will never happen.

 

[Priziesthorse]

Randy only gives a fuck about Randy and money. Nothing else.

Did you see the mma movie they tried crowdfunding with Randy as the star? lol

View: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/cameron-eddie-lose-the-belt

 

[Priziesthorse]

It would be much easier for the fighters to form an association rather than a union.

 

[Ryann Von Doom]

It would be much easier for the fighters to form an association rather than a union.

Thats what i was pushing for.

 

[MMAHAWK]

GSP fits the bill but that will never happen.

yeah he is really the only one. Maybe a group like Hendo,Sonnen, and Couture could pull it off.

 

[Star-Lord]

yeah he is really the only one. Maybe a group like Hendo,Sonnen, and Couture could pull it off.

If only Sonnen didn't have criminal charges I think he really could do it. Majority of the fighters like him. He's had a political career. Plus he just seems like a good dude

 

[Wild]

If only Sonnen didn't have criminal charges I think he really could do it. Majority of the fighters like him. He's had a political career. Plus he just seems like a good dude

Chael is a company man though. I think he'll eventually be back with the UFC or FOX in some capacity.

 

[YammaYoMama]

If only Sonnen didn't have criminal charges I think he really could do it. Majority of the fighters like him. He's had a political career. Plus he just seems like a good dude

Going off memory here, so please correct if wrong but didn't Chael's "political career" = "abruptly ended his one and only campaign as a felony indictment loomed.?"

 

[La Paix]

Going off memory here, so please correct if wrong but didn't Chael's "political career" = "abruptly ended his one and only campaign as a felony indictment loomed.?"

 

[Star-Lord]

Going off memory here, so please correct if wrong but didn't Chael's "political career" = "abruptly ended his one and only campaign as a felony indictment loomed.?"

Yep hence why I said if only he didn't have criminal charges haha. But I agree with the above GSP would be great but it won't happen