Tag: Union

MMA Union Supporter Released From UFC Roster

MMA Union supporter Kajan Johnson announced his UFC release in an emotional Instagram post. It seemed like a foregone conclusion as Johnson constantly spoke out against the UFC’s controversial business practices. And today, Johnson confirmed that his four-year run with the UFC had indeed come to an end. View his Instagram post here: “It is […]

The post MMA Union Supporter Released From UFC Roster appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

MMA Union supporter Kajan Johnson announced his UFC release in an emotional Instagram post.

It seemed like a foregone conclusion as Johnson constantly spoke out against the UFC’s controversial business practices.

And today, Johnson confirmed that his four-year run with the UFC had indeed come to an end.

View his Instagram post here:

“It is with sadness in my heart that I say farewell to the UFC. I spent the majority of my life trying to get in and once I was in I did it my way. I accomplished my dreams and did what I could to effect change within a system that greatly needs it, I am grateful for the blessings and the lessons that I was given and shown in these last 4 years and am truly a better man and fighter because of them. To all those that believed supported me, thank you, I love you. To all those that hated on me and motivated me, thank you, I love you, to whatever awaits me next, I am ready, let’s go! ” – Kajan Johnson

View this post on Instagram

It is with sadness in my heart that I say farewell to the UFC. I spent the majority of my life trying to get in and once I was in I did it my way. I accomplished my dreams and did what I could to effect change within a system that greatly needs it. I am grateful for the blessings and the lessons that I was given and shown in these last 4 years and am truly a better man and fighter because of them. To all those that believed supported me, thank you, I love you. To all those that hated on me and motivated me, thank you, I love you. To whatever awaits me next, I am ready, let’s go! ????? . . . . #farewell #ufc #freeagent #alwaysmovingforward #benow #grateful #blessed #mma #tristarvancouver #love #lifeswork #lifespassion #martialartist #vancouver #vancity

A post shared by kajan johnson (@iamkajan) on

A Bittersweet Ending

Johnson recently competed at UFC Moscow where he dropped a split decision loss to Rustam Khabilov. The bout marked the end of his four-fight contract, and apparently, it was not renewed, perhaps due to his unionization efforts.  Johnson had previously stated that he had hoped to fight out his contract in hopes of re-signing with the UFC.

UFC President Dana White and Johnson had a contentious relationship. After all, Johnson is the interim vice-president of Project Spearhead and an outspoken fighter advocate. Which made Johnson’s actions at the UFC Calgary weigh-ins that much more puzzling.

Watch Johnson’s handshake prank on Dana White:

Prior to his last two losses, “Ragin” Kajan was riding high on a four-fight win streak. At 34 years old it would seem this Tristar-trained fighter still has some fight left in him.

If Johnson decides to pursue other avenues he can always focus on his true passion of music, as Johnson is an aspiring musician in his own right.

As far as the UFC goes, he was on a short leash.

The post MMA Union Supporter Released From UFC Roster appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Georges St-Pierre, Others Promise ‘Industry Re-Defining Announcement’ Wednesday

gsp-announcement-video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSn48ASPvRg

This is ominous. During Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, host Ariel Helwani received a press release during the show and read it on the air. While he didn’t say who sent the press release, Helwani made sure to give the basic details: Georges St-Pierre, Donald Cerrone, Cain Velasquez, Tim Kennedy,  TJ Dillashaw, and Bellator founder Bjorn Rebney will “come together for industry defining announcement” this Wednesday (November 30th) at 4:00 p.m. ET on a conference call.

A follow-up article at MMAFighting by Helwani’s colleague Marc Raymond has some additional notes. The press release was sent out by O’Malley Hansen Communications, with company representative David Viggiano telling MMAFighting that all additional details are embargoed until the call on Wednesday.

So, what exactly is going on here? The prevailing belief on Twitter among members of the MMA media right now is some kind of announcement of a union or fighters’ association of some kind. Most of the listed fighters have either made pro-union comments or had high-profile disputes with UFC management, while Rebney has been hanging around on the outskirts of MMA as a vaguely defined behind the scenes manipulator since he was fired by Viacom as the boss of Bellator. Nothing else really makes sense.

Raimondi also noted that other than Cerrone, the named fighters are all represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA). CAA is the rival talent agency to WME-IMG, which now owns the UFC. One of the major topics of conversation specific to WME-IMG buying the UFC was how they will deal with fighters represented not just by CAA, but also those represented by WME-IMG itself, like Ronda Rousey. As for O’Malley Hansen Communication, they’re a heavy hitter in the public relations world with a ton of major national brand names represented on their website.

Whatever is happening, it looks like it’s going to be a huge story.

gsp-announcement-video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSn48ASPvRg

This is ominous. During Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, host Ariel Helwani received a press release during the show and read it on the air. While he didn’t say who sent the press release, Helwani made sure to give the basic details: Georges St-Pierre, Donald Cerrone, Cain Velasquez, Tim Kennedy,  TJ Dillashaw, and Bellator founder Bjorn Rebney will “come together for industry defining announcement” this Wednesday (November 30th) at 4:00 p.m. ET on a conference call.

A follow-up article at MMAFighting by Helwani’s colleague Marc Raymond has some additional notes. The press release was sent out by O’Malley Hansen Communications, with company representative David Viggiano telling MMAFighting that all additional details are embargoed until the call on Wednesday.

So, what exactly is going on here? The prevailing belief on Twitter among members of the MMA media right now is some kind of announcement of a union or fighters’ association of some kind. Most of the listed fighters have either made pro-union comments or had high-profile disputes with UFC management, while Rebney has been hanging around on the outskirts of MMA as a vaguely defined behind the scenes manipulator since he was fired by Viacom as the boss of Bellator. Nothing else really makes sense.

Raimondi also noted that other than Cerrone, the named fighters are all represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA). CAA is the rival talent agency to WME-IMG, which now owns the UFC. One of the major topics of conversation specific to WME-IMG buying the UFC was how they will deal with fighters represented not just by CAA, but also those represented by WME-IMG itself, like Ronda Rousey. As for O’Malley Hansen Communication, they’re a heavy hitter in the public relations world with a ton of major national brand names represented on their website.

Whatever is happening, it looks like it’s going to be a huge story.

UFC Champ Jose Aldo Not a Fan of the UFC-Reebok Deal, Calls for a Fighter Union

Add Jose Aldo to the list of those who have spoken out against the new UFC-Reebok Deal that is expected to go into effect this July.  The UFC featherweight champion opened up to Combate (h/t Bloody Elbow’s Lucas Rezende) as he explicitly states his feeling on the upcoming sponsorship changes: First of all, it’s s–t. Everybody has been […]

Add Jose Aldo to the list of those who have spoken out against the new UFC-Reebok Deal that is expected to go into effect this July.  The UFC featherweight champion opened up to Combate (h/t Bloody Elbow’s Lucas Rezende) as he explicitly states his feeling on the upcoming sponsorship changes: First of all, it’s s–t. Everybody has been […]

Related Posts:

Dana White Continues Battle with Union; UFC Not Likely to Return to Boston Soon

UFC Fight Night 26 in Boston didn’t come without a lot of headaches for the promotion, including a new showdown with the culinary union, based out of Las Vegas, that continued their vendetta against the company’s owners. When the card was first announced, the UFC encountered a new issue that they didn’t experience in 2010 […]

UFC Fight Night 26 in Boston didn’t come without a lot of headaches for the promotion, including a new showdown with the culinary union, based out of Las Vegas, that continued their vendetta against the company’s owners. When the card was first announced, the UFC encountered a new issue that they didn’t experience in 2010 […]

Related Posts:

Culinary Union Rep Crashes NSAC Meeting Wed to Encourage Commission to Pass ‘MMA Bill of Rights’ in Nevada


(In their defense, though, only the ones that made offensive jokes on Twitter about rape and called into work sick with a cracked skull.)

A somewhat bizarre incident from today’s Nevada State Athletic Commission meeting occurred when Culinary Union research analyst and union campaign organizer Chris Serres addressed the governing body to ask them to consider passing an “MMA bill of rights,”  similar to the Muhammed Ali Boxing Reform Act.

Serres, whose union is currently embroiled in a publicized work and pay dispute with the Fertitta-owned Station Casinos in Las Vegas and has spearheaded several of the labor group’s smear campaigns against the promotion, spoke to the commission today under the guise that he was approached to do so by “an anonymous group of fighters and managers.” It’s more likely that the move was simply just another shot fired in the war between Unite Here! and the Fertittas.


(In their defense, though, only the ones that made offensive jokes on Twitter about rape and called into work sick with a cracked skull.)

A somewhat bizarre incident from today’s Nevada State Athletic Commission meeting occurred when Culinary Union research analyst and union campaign organizer Chris Serres addressed the governing body to ask them to consider passing an “MMA bill of rights,”  similar to the Muhammed Ali Boxing Reform Act.

Serres, whose union is currently embroiled in a publicized work and pay dispute with the Fertitta-owned Station Casinos in Las Vegas and has spearheaded several of the labor group’s smear campaigns against the promotion, spoke to the commission today under the guise that he was approached to do so by “an anonymous group of fighters and managers.” It’s more likely that the move was simply just another shot fired in the war between Unite Here! and the Fertittas.

In the past the Culinary Union has contributed to the election campaign of New York Assemblyman Bob Reilly — a staunch opposer of MMA in the Empire State.

Commission reps told Serres, a former reporter with the Minnesota Star Tribune,  that they appreciate his concern on the matter and that if they find anything in the draft of the document he presented them that could better help them in regulating the sport in the future, they will take a closer look at it.

The question is, should a group with no vested interest in the sport and with an obvious axe to grind with the UFC be allowed to lobby the government to put more stringent laws in place that will negatively affect the way the promotion does business?

If it is allowed, what’s to stop groups like the UFC from following suit and asking that NSAC put more laws in place to control things like boxing purses? It’s a slippery slope they’re treading with an issue like this.

Attached is the complete transcription of Serres’ presentation to NSAC that calls for such things as freedom of association, a fair portion of revenues and the creation of a universally accepted ranking body among other things, including the right to join a union such as the one they represent. Ulterior motives, anyone?

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Union in Labor Dispute With Fertitta-Owned Station Casinos Launches Formal Antitrust Complaint With FTC About Zuffa


(Apparently, you don’t f*ck with a union spurned.)

Culinary Workers Union Local 226 — the group that is battling Station Casinos to unionize its hotel and casino workers — launched a new salvo against the casino’s owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, who also own a majority stake in the UFC and Strikeforce yesterday by firing off a letter of complaint to Federal Trade Commission Director Richard Feinstein in which they request that the FTC launch an investigation against Zuffa for what they deem as “a violation of anti-trust laws.”

According to the complaint, sent to CagePotato.com today by the union, Zuffa’s practices of buying out the competition like they did with PRIDE, the WEC, WFA and Strikeforce, their institution of champion’s clauses, automatic contract renewal clauses and guaranteed first negotiation periods in fighters’ contracts, their control of fighter image and likeness rights in perpetuity and their refusal to co-promote all put artificial restraints on athlete movement, depress pay and stifle competition.


(Apparently, you don’t f*ck with a union spurned.)

Culinary Workers Union Local 226 — the group that is battling Station Casinos to unionize its hotel and casino workers — launched a new salvo against the casino’s owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, who also own a majority stake in the UFC and Strikeforce yesterday by firing off a letter of complaint to Federal Trade Commission Director Richard Feinstein in which they request that the FTC launch an investigation against Zuffa for what they deem as “a violation of anti-trust laws.”

According to the complaint, sent to CagePotato.com today by the union, Zuffa’s practices of buying out the competition like they did with PRIDE, the WEC, WFA and Strikeforce, their institution of champion’s clauses, automatic contract renewal clauses and guaranteed first negotiation periods in fighters’ contracts, their control of fighter image and likeness rights in perpetuity and their refusal to co-promote all put artificial restraints on athlete movement, depress pay and stifle competition.

It’s worth noting that this is the same union that financially supported Bob Reilly’s re-election campaign in New York and who has been feeding the oblivious State Assemblyman lines about the Fertittas and Zuffa being sinister entities. There’s a pretty good chance they are angling at getting the FTC to force the sport to adopt a fighters union as well, but time will tell.

The CWU, who are a branch of the Unite Here group of unions that represent hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, and airport workers in the U.S. and Canada, are asking that the FTC begin a thorough investigation into Zuffa’s contravention of the FTC Act which “prohibits unfair methods of competition in or affecting commerce.”

The funny thing is, the FTC has already been investigating the UFC and Strikeforce parent company, and not surprisingly, the claim of a monopoly and of anti-trust violation has been vehemently denied by UFC president Dana White.

We’ll have to wait and see if the results of the FTC probe are made public and if they find any wrongdoing on the part of Zuffa.

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