Following the announcement of the MMAAA (mixed martial arts athletes association) a new era in the sport has begun. After years of fighters alleging unfair treatment from the UFC, and other promotions, an alliance of fighters and well-known faces has emerged. Aiming to combat the (quote) ‘outrageous treatment’ of UFC fighters, the association is led by none other than Georges St-Pierre. The ex-UFC welterweight champion was heavily rumoured to be returning at UFC 206, but contractual disputes saw that plan disintegrate.
Ironically this beef with the UFC may well have finalised St-Pierre’s place on the MMAAA, although we may never know for sure. Joined by the likes of Donald Cerrone, former champions Cain Velasquez & TJ Dillashaw, Tim Kennedy and ex-Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, the association certainly has a lot of sway. Will it be enough to combat the might of the UFC, though? That remains to be seen.
Power In Numbers
Speaking during the conference call for the MMAAA, ‘GSP’ raised some very interesting points. Claiming every fighter he’d met during his illustrious career shared the same story, St-Pierre said it’s time for a change.
“I’m here to talk about these problems, to make this situation better. Maybe to the UFC I’ll be seen like a villain, like when I came out with the PED problem. I want everybody to be happy, on both sides. I’m one of the rare fighters who came out and is healthy and wealthy now days. I can’t say that about most fighters these days. Most sports it’s 50-50 for the athletes and promoters. We have around 8%. It’s not fair to the UFC top contestants, even to Conor McGregor, who doesn’t have his fair share of what he should have. I’m not born with a silver spoon, I’m a real fighter, I worked three jobs, went to school and trained to fight. My first fight, I received 3K/3K from the UFC.”
“Travelling from gym-to-gym, with different partners from different backgrounds, it’s the same problems always mentioned. We are here today to take a stand, and fight for all the fighters who have the same problems. Fighters are being bullied and intimidated, scared to retire or not fight again, fighters who are being left broken, with brain injuries and physical trauma. There’s no insurance or care. I personally met fighters in the beginning of their career, and they are not the same person at the end of their career. This, for me, is unacceptable. UFC without fighters is only three letters of the alphabet. It’s time for us to make our voice heard, and make a change happen for the fighters.”
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