A dispute between UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and her now former management team is heating up. Darin Harvey, Rousey’s manager since 2010, says the promotion’s biggest star enjoys her status due in large part to his investment into her early development. (via Pro MMA Now.)
“When I first met Ronda Rousey four years ago, she was destitute and UFC President Dana White was quoted as saying a woman would never fight in the UFC,” said Harvey. “I set out to make Ronda a star and prove Dana wrong. The results speak for themselves. Ronda is now a highly sought-after model, spokesperson and actress, not to mention the first and still reigning female UFC champion. She deserves all the credit in the world for her accomplishments, but she never would have achieved such unprecedented success without the unwavering financial investment, career guidance and professional support Fight Tribe Management and I provided her.”
As for exactly how much of an investment Harvey undertook in managing Rousey, MMA Junkie has the details:
Harvey submitted an exhibit showing that from January 2010 to January 2014, he received $25,608 from Rousey’s fight earnings, $23,180 from pay-per-view proceeds, and $20,830 from sponsorships. In turn, he spent $170,376 on the fighter’s training camps, living expenses and sparring partners, resulting in a loss of $85,818.
Harvey filed a request for private arbitration on Mar. 7. In response, Rousey went before the California State Athletic Commission to argue her agreement with Harvey be unenforcible. On Apr. 3 the CSAC sided with Rousey, releasing her from the fighter portion of her management agreement after ruling that Harvey failed to comply with the body’s standards of properly disclosing details of all business arrangements with Rousey to the commission.
“I am not a litigious person, but I never thought for a moment that once she made it to the top, Ronda would turn her back on us and refuse to honor her legal and moral obligations,” said Harvey. “After months of radio silence and without even giving me the courtesy of an explanation I was forced to go to court to compel Ronda to private arbitration per the terms of our agreement. Before that could be sorted out, Ronda’s legal team ran to the State Athletic Commission, demanded an expedited hearing and tried to get our entire agreement thrown out on a technicality. During our four-hour hearing last week, I finally heard Ronda’s side of the story. Frankly, it’s pathetic and I’m not surprised the Commission chose not to include any of that in their written decision. The Commission did properly reject Ronda’s attempt to invalidate the entirety of our agreement, and I am very pleased with that aspect of their decision. Our case against Ronda will now proceed. I am confident that when all the facts are presented to an impartial private arbitrator, Fight Tribe Management’s contributions to Ronda’s career will be fully recognized and fairly rewarded.”
Finalized in January 2013, the agreement between Harvey and Rousey called for not only incomes earned from the champion’s fighting, but from her various other entertainment projects including modeling and acting. As for that portion of the agreement, the CSAC deferred ruling on those matters to the California Superior Court.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Finally. Ben Askren has an opponent for his ONE FC debut.
Next for Ronda. Chuck Mindenhall tries to sort out the three-woman race to get a shot at Rousey’s crown.
The ladies. Female MMA fighters talk the pros and cons of training alongside their male counterparts.
AMA. Matt Brown says he would ‘beat Hendricks handedly.’ Check out the rest of Brown’s Reddit AMA here.
‘No ground game.’ Fabricio Werdum says Cain Velasquez would rather fight Travis Browne because he doesn’t have any confidence on the mat.
MEDIA STEW
Highlights from Legacy FC 30 with Holly Holm.
Nice profile on Yoel Romero.
Cris Cyborg talks Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm on Inside MMA.
Gina Carano on Arsenio Hall.
Backstage at BAMMA 15.
Paul Daley kickboxing in Milan.
Long watches.
Submission Radio 5/4/14 with Urijah Faber, Bas Rutten, Duane Finley
TWEETS
Looks like it.
Gymnastics on the beach! Enjoying my last days before going into surgery for my left knee… pic.twitter.com/crkn5JJ0zs
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) April 4, 2014
May they never fight.
@wandfc told me, HALF THE THINGS I HAVE SAID OFFEND HIM- I said, “YOU DIDNT UNDERSTAND THE OTHER HALF…”
— chael sonnen (@sonnench) April 6, 2014
Everyone’s in Abu Dhabi.
Here we go Abu Dhabi next!!! manomanagement majdishammas gabriel_allstars #andreasmichael http://t.co/HbAs9FjqoX
— Alexander Gustafsson (@AlexTheMauler) April 6, 2014
Beautifu babyl arábic Horse , im having a hard time to make New friend.rsss Cavalinho fofo e bravo… http://t.co/kfm8cbDvJG
— Rodrigo Nogueira (@Minotauromma) April 6, 2014
Go to Abu Dhabi! ! ! ! ! #ufcabudhabi #ufcfightnight #ufcfightpass http://t.co/vUE5ulVR9l
— ????tatsuya kawajiri (@CRUSHER_MMA) April 6, 2014
Always hope.
Probably the only time I’ll ever hold an Oscar besides my boxing coach Oscar Muniz. He’s a bit bigger… http://t.co/OzO9vMAfTI
— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) April 6, 2014
Get well soon.
Shaka….coming fall 2014 Photo by Loco Dog @ryanloco http://t.co/BZtrz27wg6
— Rashad Evans (@SugaRashadEvans) April 6, 2014
Congrats.
I won my fight tonight. First time back in the ring in almost two and a half years. Thanks for the support… http://t.co/KwROoOczcS
— Jeremy Horn (@jeremyhornelite) April 6, 2014
1 year ago today I made my @UFC debut!! What a crazy year it has been!! #DreamsComeTrue pic.twitter.com/xGuPIDPWg5
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 6, 2014
I won my MMA pro debut by submission! Thanks everyone from @themmalab for pushing me hard and helping me to get… http://t.co/sMKCyGVOGi
— Augusto Tanquinho (@tanquinhojj) April 6, 2014
The couple that trains together.
Nice sunny day in Sac until @MeganOlivi brought the thunder on the mitts! #BenaLivi pic.twitter.com/7h4FmQcTCQ
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) April 6, 2014
Outstanding.
“@ashertn: “Dinner by @Alistairovereem” Best autograph. Ever. @BruceDwane @nedwin pic.twitter.com/BVvwA5DUeB“
— Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) April 5, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (Apr. 4-6 2014)
Francimar Barroso vs. Pat Cummins at UFC Fight Night: Albuquerque
Mike Brown out, Estevan Payan vs. Alex White at UFC on FOX 11
Kyung Ho Kang out, Chico Camus vs. Chris Holdsworth at UFC 173
Bakhtiyar Abbasov vs. Ben Askren at ONE FC 16
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via DirtyBird2.
Roundup of MMA News not being reported
A Sol Kwon misses weight at ROAD FC KOR 3: deducted 2 points per round+no fight purse
ROAD Fighting Championship’s monthly league is back on April 6, 2014 with “Korea versus Brazil”. All but 3 fighters made weight for ROAD FC – Korea 3, headliner Kwon A-Sol and 2 on the Young Guns undercard.
The main event match saw Kwon again fail to make weight, this time by 3.4 kilograms, and Giovanni Diniz did not look pleased about it. Within his alotted time, Kwon only made it to 73.9. Officials and Diniz’ camp led by Luis Ramos agreed on the following conditions: by 8pm tomorrow Kwon must still weigh below 78; every round will be deducted 2 points, and he forfeits all of his fight money.
Of the two fighters on the undercard, Kim Jae-Kyung made weight on his second try, but Lee Hyung-Seok couldn’t shed the last 100grams and sees 50% of his purse go out the window.
WOCS Champ Diniz, long considered among the best Brazilian lightweights not signed to an international promotion, will still take on Korea’s mouthy and heavy-handed Kwon maintains his weight. Kwon’s rising from the ashes gets an even stiffer test with Diniz. He has confidence and heavy hands, wheres Diniz is an all around killer.
(A Sol Kwon did end up finishing the fight though)https:// www.facebook.com/swiat.ultrasow I can not imbed the video but that is the facebook profile of a 5 on 5 MMA League.
After beating Aleksander Emilianeko Bellator has signed top Heavyweight prospect Dmitry Sosnovskiy
19 year old HW prospect Gzim Selami defeats ufc vet Oil Thompson in 19 seconds at BAMMA15
Top LHW prospect Philipe “Monstro” Lins makes his long awaited Bellator debut since signing with the promotion in 2012 as the #2 ranked LHW prospect in the world (Behind ufc bust wagner prado)
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
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