It looks like the time has finally come. It seems as if the Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association is actually happening and that can mean some very, very big changes moving forward in the sport. The Association promises some pretty bold, pretty intriguing offerings for those who looking for some security outside of the major mixed martial arts promotions, namely the UFC. Fighter treatment has been a hot-button issue for quite some time now, specifically fighter pay, health insurance, and severance/retirement packages fighters aren’t afforded with their contracts with top MMA promotions.
Is this Fighter Association what the athletes have been waiting for? At this point it’s hard to say. The Fighter Association has been set up in hopes of representing their clients, namely fighters under the UFC brand for example, and their best interests. Tim Kennedy, Georges St-Pierre, and the other fighters on the board have gone on record stating that their first line of business is to obtain a settlement package that will ensure that past, present, and future UFC fighters will be given the benefits needed to give them a safety net for their post fight careers. Going forward they are hoping to expand on this idea of giving the power back to the fighters.
So far, it sounds great and it’s about time that something was done to ensure that fighters are given a fair shake. The problem is we can’t celebrate so soon. Until a great deal of fighters join this association, until we’ve seen that the big promotions are actually being threatened by this new entity, there’s no way of knowing if the MMA Athletes Association is truly going to make a change. With big names like Georges St-Pierre, Donald Cerrone, Cain Velasquez, TJ Dillashaw, and Tim Kennedy as members of the board, fighters are sure to be in good hands moving forward. It’s all about if they can actually get some traction for this thing to work. Until then, everything is a question mark.
What is your take on this new Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association?
Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.
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