Comments on: Fitch’s release a calculated attempt to send fighters and their managers a message

By: matthew

matthew — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:10:12 +0000

that is why 5-10 year likeness deals are acceptable. Lifetime likeness deals are not.

Not in the fighters best interests as the potential to create marketing problems in the future can be significant.

I believe that is all that was asked for.

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By: Dr.Stoppage

Dr.Stoppage — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:00:33 +0000

If any fighter signs over their ‘likeness’ to the UFC,then are successful somewhere else,that other promotion has the opportunity to buy the ‘likeness’ rights from the UFC.
If I give you the opportunity to become a star in my organization,I would like to retain some sort of stake in you ,should you decide to leave,or get fired,and become a star somewhere else.
Unless you’re Tito,or Nick Diaz,or Lawler,or…

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By: Bullylover

Bullylover — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:22:36 +0000

Russiandoeboi-i agree it’s only a matter of time till they try to market Lesner as the best heavyweight in the worl knowing that Gonzaga,AA,Fedor,even Ben Rothwell would own any given day. I hate to say this but the ufc is starting to go down hill. They’re going to lose a number of contenders by not fucking withAKA. Who,s going to replace Koscheick?Paul taylor’s helmetless self.

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By: Robthom

Robthom — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:10:40 +0000

Very comprehensive ! Great write up.
Personally, I have to side with the fighters on this one.
The lifetime likeness demands are, to put it bluntly, insane.
And if UFC thinks some fighters are getting paid more than they’re worth, why do they raise their pay so dramatically to the point of being uncomfortable with it and then demanding renegotiations in the middle of the contract.
Not cool!

Well Affliction needs fighters, and they’ve got some money. If UFC continues to keep the cheap and popular fighters over the good ones, then maybe Affliction will become the place to see real hardcore MMA.

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By: Rich S.

Rich S. — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:30:00 +0000

how do you fire a man that JUST fought for your Welterweight Championship?

and over something like this?

this is absolutely ludicrous on so many levels..

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By: russiandoeboi

russiandoeboi — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:55:38 +0000

good another top 5 guy free to fight anywhere.
dana wants to clear the way for brock forrestgump lesnar by freeing up
sylvia,werdum,arlovski.
guys way to big to be brocked, and too skilled not to finish brock

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By: ihateemo

ihateemo — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:25:27 +0000

@ Lawdawg

“No lawyer/agent in their right mind would allow their client/fighter to sign this agreement.”

I agree – that said, if I read Fitch’s interview with MMAWeekly correctly, he says that this was a PREVIOUSLY offered contract that nobody would sign but it’s something close to what White was asking.

Man, I am still in shock about this. Fitch is one of my favourite fighters.

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By: red

red — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:24:46 +0000

At the end of the day all these camps make there living off of the UFC and the UFC wont let them dictate what there terms will be. If Fintch and AKA was fighting in Dream all this time he would have never had the pay day he had when he fought GSP because they can not bring in that type of money. I am sure that that agreement had some sort of benfit to the fighters and eve ryone wants more. Maybe Dana has learned from all he mistakes that boxing made over the years and is willing to not cave for the better of his company. But for all of us it is a short term loss because when its all said and done everyone wants to come back to the big game look at Randy.

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By: mo

mo — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:00:20 +0000

I think it has a lot to do with relationships with the UFC and agents. I mean Ivan Salivery and Jeorge Gurgel (maybe misspelled, sorry) are still on UFC roster with taking multiple losses and aren’t much of a draw at all on their own. I think the way the Koscheck deal pans out will be very telling. Kos is a bit of a draw because people don’t like him, and he has been very willing to step in when the UFC needed a fighter replacement, so it will be interesting to see how far Dana goes with his dislike for people who do not work with him. I could see releasing Fitch because he could block other guys from getting title shots, kind of like the Rich Franklin as a gatekeeper for MW, but you have to be a bit concerned with the UFC not having the best fighters, and focusing more on fights that may sell.

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By: Lawdawg

Lawdawg — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:18:04 +0000

Interesting article about what the fighters are being asked to sign: http://www.tapoutlive.com/images/mags/ufc_legal.pdf
May not be the whole story but it does give Fitch’s version of the dispute credence. No lawyer/agent in their right mind would allow their client/fighter to sign this agreement.

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By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:48:03 +0000

Sam,

Do you have any idea how this is handled w/ the WWE and the contracts it holds for the wrestlers likeness when it comes to video games, posters, etc.?

What type of employees are the fighters to the UFC? Independent contractors who receive 1099s or W2s?

This looks like growing pains that have to happen when a “new” sport becomes this big this quickly, and with it become more legitamite to the mainstream public.

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By: matthew

matthew — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:01:05 +0000

Tony Fennen – “As far as LIKENESS…. You cant sign away your likeness EVER!”

I could not agree more.

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By: Tony Fennen

Tony Fennen — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:58:24 +0000

As a semi-successful business man I understand the idea of cutting payroll. I also understand that Fitch is not very marketable from that stand point of charisma but the boy can fight!
I dont think I would go out of my way to see a PPV with him has the headliner unless he is fighting someone like GSP or BJ.

As far as LIKENESS…. You cant sign away your likeness EVER!
This is a HUGE reason for having a fighters union. We all saw what happened back in the day with WWE and how guys like Hulk Hogan had to fight to keep his own name. Dana is wrong on this one! If Fitch becomes a champion in another promotion UFC will make it hard on him like they did to Randy.

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By: matthew

matthew — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:39:21 +0000

Jay K. – agreed.

This should not have been an issue. I get the feeling someone within the UFC is trying to save face.

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By: Jay K.

Jay K. — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:28:51 +0000

“The fact that THQ had been promised exclusive access to the likeness of the entire UFC roster when the UFC wasn’t in a position to make such an assurance is believed to be a reason why the promotion has acted in haste in regards to demanding its fighters sign over their likenesses for “Undisputed.””

I understand the world of business in the sense of “if you don’t like it, go elsewhere” mindset. Neither party has loyalty to the other w/r/t Fitch, but for the UFC to pull a stunt like this with THQ after they’ve gone the distance is just sloppy mismanagement of a project plan that is being executed out of order. Whomever is running this video game project for the UFC should be given their walking papers for botching this up.

Jay K.

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By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:06:14 +0000

If another promotion picks up Fitch, I’ll buy the ppv to watch him fight again, Fitch has never let me down in a fight. Every time Fitch steps into fight, it is always entertaining.

Huge huge mistake by the UFC, what a terribly retarded move.

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By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:02:28 +0000

Dana White is really tiresome I can’t believe he has a ton of fans.The man is absolutely nauseating.

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By: Davey D

Davey D — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:59:19 +0000

I hope some reslove can come out of this mess. I guess it is just not good to defy Zuffa when they want to you follow their lead? Respect is a two way street. Let’s hope all parties involved can travel that road going forward.

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By: dongbar

dongbar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:36:06 +0000

Very well put together Sam!

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By: Sergio Hernandez

Sergio Hernandez — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:27:18 +0000

This entire story boggles my mind.

On one hand, managers are needed for fighters who don’t know the ins and outs of business and just simply “want to fight.”

On the other hand, and I guess in White’s experience, managers can get too greedy and make demands that don’t make sense for their client.

And the whole THQ/EA likeness situation is VERY interesting…

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