Earlier this week it was reported that a ‘redefining’ announcement would be made today (Nov. 30, 2016) by a group of fighters led by former longtime UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and former Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney. Speculation immediately turned to the idea that the group, which consists of St. Pierre as well as
Earlier this week it was reported that a ‘redefining’ announcement would be made today (Nov. 30, 2016) by a group of fighters led by former longtime UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and former Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney.
Speculation immediately turned to the idea that the group, which consists of St. Pierre as well as Tim Kennedy, TJ Dillashaw, Donald Cerrone, and Cain Velasquez, would be forming a fighters’ union, and while they haven’t necessarily done that, they have indeed formed what they called the Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association (MMAAA).
The group, which will focus solely on UFC fighters for the time being, will aim to improve conditions and pay for not only current fighters, but former fighters and future fighters as well.
Oddly enough, the board didn’t release many details regarding their plans, but the UFC reacted to the news nonetheless (Via MMAFighting):
“We respect all of our athletes and are always open and willing to hear their thoughts on how to improve the sport,” a UFC official said.
Rebney, who will serve as an advisor to the group, said during a conference call earlier today that the members have yet to reach out to the UFC and that they don’t plan to at this time.
Stay tuned to LowKickMMA as more news on the situation unfolds.
A much ballyhooed press conference took place on Wednesday afternoon, and it didn’t take long to parse out the intentions of those in attendance.
Talks of a fighter’s union in MMA has gone through numerous iterations over the years, but 2016 was a deci…
A much ballyhooed press conference took place on Wednesday afternoon, and it didn’t take long to parse out the intentions of those in attendance.
Talks of a fighter’s union in MMA has gone through numerous iterations over the years, but 2016 was a decidedly big year with the addition of the Professional Fighter’s Association (PFA). However, a leak of names forced women’s bantamweight Leslie Smith and labor lawyer Lucas Middlebrook broke from the PFA (h/t Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting).
Wednesday, another player came to the forefront with outspoken fighters and the backing of some very interesting characters.
UFC middleweight contender Tim Kennedy was the first to speak at the press conference.
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani tweeted Kennedy’s words about this not just being about today’s fighters but also past fighters who have endured a career’s worth of punishment.
Damon Martin of Fox Sports reports the official new name of the endeavor that was released at the presser.
After Kennedy, GSP took to the stage. The former welterweight kingpin said he feels the UFC will villify him and brought up the current leading star — Conor McGregor.
And here is the first official tweet from the new fighter’s association:
Other fighters at the press conference, Donald Cerrone, TJ Dillashaw and Cain Velasquez spoke about the new association as well as their struggles under the current system.
Sport Illustrated’s Mike Dyce showcased former Bellator figurehead Bjorn Rebney’s pointed remarks concerning WME-IMG, the new owners of the UFC.
Although B/R’s own Jonathan Snowden points out the dangers in believing what Rebney says given his history in the space.
B/R’s Patrick Wyman also points out that his nefarious dealings also gives him great insight into fixing the problems fighters face today.
Rebney then dropped the magic word during his time on the mic at the press conference.
Kennedy also gave insight into how the fighter’s association is currently structured.
The fighters know they are taking a risk. Not only did GSP admit he thinks the UFC will see him as the bad guy, but Dillashaw spoke that he is fearful of repercussions as well.
In response to SI’s Mike Dyce, labor lawyer Lucas Middlebrook spoke to the current position the new association is in without being certified. The UFC has no obligation to sit with them currently.
Snowden is not the only veteran reporter questioning Rebney. MMA Fighting’s Luke Thomas had an observation of Rebney as well.
The always outspoken Ben Askren, ONE FC’s welterweight champion, thinks it makes sense for the association to be organization specific and not industry-focused.
Other fighters took to the Twittersphere to share their thoughts.
Are the Fertitta’s geniuses for selling the UFC when they did?
Hey, GSP, what about that McGregor fellow?
Bleacher Report will continuously update the story as the press conference continues.
To kick off a conference call that apparently has over 100 media members on the line, UFC middleweight contender Tim Kennedy officially announced the formations of a union/fighters’ association for MMA Fighters, the MMA Athletes’ Association. Attorney Jim Quinn was announced as the head of their legal team, with Kennedy remarking that he’s the best there is in the field of athletes’ associations. Quinn is also the lawyer for Georges St-Pierre, who was also on the call and spoke of how while he got out of the sport rich and relatively healthy, he’s in the minority.
The call is still ongoing as this post goes up, and we’ll have more updates later. As previously announced, Kennedy, St-Pierre, T.J. Dillashaw, and Cain Velasquez are the fighters on the call, joined by Bellator MMA founder Bjorn Rebney.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yia7p-RhnPc&t=4s
To kick off a conference call that apparently has over 100 media members on the line, UFC middleweight contender Tim Kennedy officially announced the formations of a union/fighters’ association for MMA Fighters, the MMA Athletes’ Association. Attorney Jim Quinn was announced as the head of their legal team, with Kennedy remarking that he’s the best there is in the field of athletes’ associations. Quinn is also the lawyer for Georges St-Pierre, who was also on the call and spoke of how while he got out of the sport rich and relatively healthy, he’s in the minority.
The call is still ongoing as this post goes up, and we’ll have more updates later. As previously announced, Kennedy, St-Pierre, T.J. Dillashaw, and Cain Velasquez are the fighters on the call, joined by Bellator MMA founder Bjorn Rebney.
News arrived earlier this week (Mon., Nov. 28, 2016) that an ‘industry re-defining’ announcement was coming today from a group of prominent MMA figureheads including former UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre and Bellator founder and former CEO Bjorn Rebney. The group, which also included former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, former bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw,
News arrived earlier this week (Mon., Nov. 28, 2016) that an ‘industry re-defining’ announcement was coming today from a group of prominent MMA figureheads including former UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre and Bellator founder and former CEO Bjorn Rebney.
The group, which also included former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, former bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw, fan favorite welterweight Donald Cerrone, and middleweight Tim Kennedy, revealed this afternoon that they had taken the steps to finally form a long-awaited fighters’ union for MMA competitors. The association will be called the official Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association.
The brand-new MMAAA just tweeted this photo of the flagship members online:
St-Pierre has long been at odds with the UFC, stemming from the very moment he vacated his long-held welterweight title in the aftermath of his highly controversial split decision win over Johny Hendricks at 2013’s UFC 167. The superstar supposedly had his belt taken from his locker room while he showered before UFC President Dana White downplayed his decision to take some time off, saying a champion fighter simply couldn’t do that.
But that paled in comparison to the roadblocks St-Pierre ran into when he attempted to make something of a comeback earlier this year. He revealed the UFC’s new owners, talent giant WME-IMG, had taken a previous deal he had with prior owner Lorenzo Fertitta off the table, and then failed to offer him a suitable bout in a timeframe laid out by his attorney, making him a free agent in his own mind. The UFC insists St-Pierre remains under contract and they expect him to fulfill the obligations of his previous deal.
St-Pierre joined up with Rebney, the Bellator founder who was often at odds with White, Cerrone, who recently said he would be willing to head up a union, Dillashaw, who, like Kennedy, has recently been a staunch opponent of UFC fighter pay and treatment. Interestingly enough, Velasquez has never been viewed as discontented nor spoke out against the current system, but it must be heavily noted that each fighter involved in the announcement is a client of Creative Agents Agency (CAA), WME-IMG’s direct competitor.
Still, a fighter’s union where combatants are finally able to collectively bargain for better pay, benefits, and overall treatment is long overdue for the UFC and MMA overall, so the announcement comes as a breath of fresh air for a disgruntled fighter base that is finally realizing their worth after the company they work for as ‘independent contractors’ was sold for a staggering $4.2 billion.
That alone would have marked a new era for the growing sport, but this news makes it certain that revolutionary times are here for MMA. Let’s hope that leads to the athletes who put their lives on the line receiving better compensation and care.
According to a report by MMA Fighting, Kelvin Gastelum has been cleared to face Kennedy next month at UFC 206. The hold up was that the Ontari…
Tim Kennedy once again has a fight set up.
According to a report by MMA Fighting, Kelvin Gastelum has been cleared to face Kennedy next month at UFC 206. The hold up was that the Ontario Athletic Commission planned to fulfill the suspension handed down by the New York Athletic Commission to Gastelum for missing his weigh-in earlier this month.
Gastelum, though, settled on a $2,000 fine with the New York Athletic Commission and will be allowed to compete on December 10 vs. Kennedy.
Kennedy has gone through two cancelled fights with Rashad Evans in recent weeks, but was always hopeful of remaining on the Canada card.
There still appears to be a hold up involving the UFC 206 card, as the Ontatio Athletic Commission has yet to receive confirmation that will allow the Tim Kennedy-Kelvin Gastelum contest to take place.
Gastelum was suspended six months by the New York Athletic Commission after failing to weigh-in. The former Ultimate Fighter winner remains hopeful that his management team will get the suspension lifted so he can compete.
“The OAC honors all suspensions by members of the Association of Boxing Commissions,” Denelle Balfour, a spokesperson for the commission, wrote today in an email to MMAjunkie.
Gastelum has struggled with his weight, forcing the UFC to move him to middleweight once again. He is planning to try his hand at welterweight next year.
There still appears to be a hold up involving the UFC 206 card, as the Ontatio Athletic Commission has yet to receive confirmation that will allow the Tim Kennedy-Kelvin Gastelum contest to take place.
Gastelum was suspended six months by the New York Athletic Commission after failing to weigh-in. The former Ultimate Fighter winner remains hopeful that his management team will get the suspension lifted so he can compete.
“The OAC honors all suspensions by members of the Association of Boxing Commissions,” Denelle Balfour, a spokesperson for the commission, wrote today in an email to MMAjunkie.
Gastelum has struggled with his weight, forcing the UFC to move him to middleweight once again. He is planning to try his hand at welterweight next year.
A much ballyhooed press conference took place on Wednesday afternoon, and it didn’t take long to parse out the intentions of those in attendance.
