http://www.ufcgyms.com/ "Welcome to the Ultimate Fitness Experience" The UFC is going to open gyms 'worldwide' that will offer MMA-style fitness training and, presumably, MMA training as well. The UFC has also announced its plans on controlling fighter sponsors. The UFC hopes to have sponsors sign directly with the UFC rather than having the fighters and their managers broker their own sponsorship deals. This would allow the UFC to veto sponsors it doesn't approve of, more so than it already does, and possibly help lesser known fighters get sponsorship. In exchange the UFC would take a cut of the deal, as managers do already. The UFC is going to try to implement a "360-degree" role in managing their fighters as well. Fighters who make money outside of the octagon or the UFC's officially sanctioned public appearances would have to pay a percentage of their income to the UFC. So, hypothetically, anything they do on the side would now result in them giving a cut to the UFC. Eventually, like the WWE, the UFC will own the names and likenesses of their fighters. These steps seem to indicate the UFC is looking for greater control of their fighters.
so long as fighter pay and sponsorship money goes up, it's a good deal. Fighters should have SOME control over their sponsors though like pro athletes do in other sports. some guys are sponsored by Nike, some by Addidas etc. This must be pissing off the managers who get a cut of the sponsorship money. The UFC appears to be trying to cut them out. All a fighter would need is to hire an attorney to help go over the legal aspects of a contract each time they need to renew. Also if the UFC is going to have such control, does that mean they'll cut fighters less frequently? In major league sports or the WWE there's a lot less roster turnover. Fighters will need stability.
Seems kinda sketchy. is this the norm for all professional athletes? like does Lebron and Kobe give the NBA a slice of their nike sponsor money? I am interested to see how this pans out.
The UFC will get a slice acting as an agent and brokering the deals. The NBA doesn't do that. The WWE does do that and Dana has admitted he admires McMahon's business model.
You can't blame Dana for modeling the UFC after the WWE. McMahon has been very successful, obviously. As long as the UFC doesn't start writing matches and doing back flips from the top of the cage, then we're good.
and skip the ring entrances from the rafters too! having a Pride like set up would work. I always liked how they introduced all of the fighters at the beginning of the show.. gave me goosebumps of anticipation
I don't think any endorsment money goes back to the NBA Player's Union or the team. This should actually benefit both the fighter and the UFC. With the UFC brokering the deals I'd venture to say they'll negotiate better deals for their fighters. I think the UFC branded gym concept is a brilliant move on their part though. There's a lot of gyms opening up where I live teaching MMA classes for all ages.
