The Myth Of The UFC Fighter As Partner
Or, Of Course No UFC Fighter is A True Partner
Welcome to the latest C’mon Now newsletter. This is the place where I’ll share my thoughts on all the goings-on in MMA. Those thoughts could range from media criticism to advice for folks looking to get into MMA writing to why certain fighters or managers are not good for the sport.
Today’s topic is the myth of the UFC fighter as partner.
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UFC president Dana White was on the “Talk the Talk” podcast earlier this month. While yapping with Eddie Hearn and Tony Belle, the UFC’s head honcho tried to sell the idea that some UFC fighters are partners with the UFC.
“Jon Jones and I do not agree on something right now. We’re having a disagreement, but Jon Jones is a partner in this business. Conor McGregor is a partner in this business. The list goes on and on. When you get to that level, when you become a star or a world champion like these guys are, they’re a partner,” White said.
“The way that it works in the UFC, these guys that become these big stars, become partners,” White continued. “They become partners in the pay-per-view and selling the pay-per-view. That’s how we all make money. But every one of those guys that you mentioned from the Chuck Liddells to the Anderson Silvas to the Georges St-Pierres to the Jon Joneses, Ronda Rousey, they all brought something different to the table.”
While that all sounds great, it’s not true.
UFC fighters aren't partners. I guess you could say they're partners in the specific pay-per-view they’re headlining, but they’re not true partners then either. The fighters get a share of the pay-per-view, but only if the sales meet a pre-determined threshold. However, if sales don’t eclipse that threshold then the fighters get a handshake and a “better luck next time,” from the UFC brass who collect their money from ESPN, regardless of the sales of the event.
That’s not a partnership.
A true partner would be a partner all the time, not just some jamoke who gets a cut of a pay-per-view when it has higher than average sales. A true partner would be an employee and not an independent contractor. A partner would also know where all the money is going and how it's being divided and who gets what and what share they're getting as compared to the other partners.
No UFC fighter is a partner.
Sure, it sounds good to say the fighters are partners and you can probably sell that idea to someone who doesn't know the way the UFC does business, but in the big picture, we all know that Jones and McGregor are not and likely will never be partners in the UFC. They’re just fighters who are signed to one-sided contracts with the UFC who exploits them for a large share of the money they bring in through their blood and sweat while White sits at cageside and plays Animal Crossing or some other shit on his phone.
Do you know something about UFC, USADA, an MMA manager or a fighter, that I should know? You can email me at trent.reinsmith@gmail.com or contact me via secure messaging on Telegram at trentreinsmith.
