UFC is a horrible company.

[Motorcity Cobra]

I doubt this, but obviously I could be wrong (and I'd like it in this instance if I do end up being wrong).

Boxers have been getting screwed for decades upon decades. They didn't unionize. I doubt MMA guys will either.

'Labor' in this industry is cheap. It's tough to unionize when you have a vast supply of cheap labor.

The difference is all these fighters are under the same promotional company. Much easier to organize against one outfit than thousands of boxers trying to organize against hundreds of different promotional company. Would it be easier for all McDonald's workers to unionizeagainst McDonald's or all fast food workers to unionize against all fast food restaurants?

[1bad65]

The difference is all these fighters are under the same promotional company. Much easier to organize against one outfit than thousands of boxers trying to organize against hundreds of different promotional company. Would it be easier for all McDonald's workers to unionizeagainst McDonald's or all fast food workers to unionize against all fast food restaurants?

Not really.

There are many orgs (for lack of a better word) putting on fights. All those guys would have to unionize too, and I just cant see that happening.

Your second part I think actually touches on it, but it looks like you weren't aware of how many other companies besides UFC put on fights.

[Motorcity Cobra]

Not really.

There are many orgs (for lack of a better word) putting on fights. All those guys would have to unionize too, and I just cant see that happening.

Your second part I think actually touches on it, but it looks like you weren't aware of how many other companies besides UFC put on fights.

Just like other restaurants besides McDonald's sell fast food? I am aware of other promotional companies. But it's easier for UFC fighters to organize because they're all under the same banner.

To even get a union started you have to get 50.1% of the employees to sign a union card stating they're interested in joining a union. Is it easier to organize 50.1% of UFC signed fighters. Or is it easier to track down and organize 50.1% of people around the world who call themselves professional MMA fighters?

The UFC classified their fighters as contractors not employees. But they're blatantly violating labor laws with that misclassification. I'm a plaintiff in a misclassification suit right now. We've been in court since December 2015 and its only 20 of us. If McGregor is a contractor why isn't he allowed to offer his services on the open market? If you hire a contractor to do your roof you can't tell him he can't do your neighbors roof. If you hire a contractor to fix your plumbing. You can't make him wear a uniform that you choose (reebok) Private contracts don't supersede federal labor laws

[Monaco Slim]

Um, no. They were just purchased, for a massive amount of money.

No, Connor is not a pro boxer. He's never fought professionally as a boxer, and I believe he's under UFC contract. He isn't boxing anyone unless UFC approves it.

That, and he'd still need to get licensed and an opponent approved.

I'm one who thinks that could be a huge problem. Can you see a Boxing Commission license a fight between a guy who is 0-0 making his debut against a guy whose 49-0 and considered the best ever????

They purchased the UFC and all its billions of debt to go along with it.

[1bad65]

But it's easier for UFC fighters to organize because they're all under the same banner.

Not really, and you actually answer why yourself later....

The UFC classified their fighters as contractors not employees.

And this is why it's so hard. Good luck getting a union formed when the labor force in question are contractors.

Ain't gonna happen.

But they're blatantly violating labor laws with that misclassification.

That's hard to swallow, as not only are they not charged for violating labor laws, they aren't even accused of it!!

If McGregor is a contractor why isn't he allowed to offer his services on the open market?

Because he signed a contract with a 'no compete' clause.

Wrestling has been doing it forever, and they aren't in trouble for it.

If you hire a contractor to do your roof you can't tell him he can't do your neighbors roof. If you hire a contractor to fix your plumbing. You can't make him wear a uniform that you choose (reebok) Private contracts don't supersede federal labor laws

Incorrect.

You can if it's agreed to. No one holds a gun to these people's heads and forces them to sign these contracts. And none of what you cited (uniforms, exclusive contracts) violate Federal law.

Now I must tell everyone here I'm not against them unionizing. I'm all for these guys making darn good money. They deserve every cent they can get. But I just dont see this happening, and I'm only giving my reasoning why. I'm not arguing with you guys, fyi.

[1bad65]

They purchased the UFC and all its billions of debt to go along with it.

Can you source that?

I find it hard to believe anyone would pay that much money for something in the red. But people do things I never saw coming....

[Motorcity Cobra]

Not really, and you actually answer why yourself later....



And this is why it's so hard. Good luck getting a union formed when the labor force in question are contractors.

Ain't gonna happen.



That's hard to swallow, as not only are they not charged for violating labor laws, they aren't even accused of it!!



Because he signed a contract with a 'no compete' clause.

Wrestling has been doing it forever, and they aren't in trouble for it.



Incorrect.

You can if it's agreed to. No one holds a gun to these people's heads and forces them to sign these contracts. And none of what you cited (uniforms, exclusive contracts) violate Federal law.

Now I must tell everyone here I'm not against them unionizing. I'm all for these guys making darn good money. They deserve every cent they can get. But I just dont see this happening, and I'm only giving my reasoning why. I'm not arguing with you guys, fyi.

Edit: I put to more info in the original post than I'm comfortable with sharing at this time. But just trust me on this one. I'm not talking out of my azz. I've been thru the union organizing and currently going thru a misclassification suit right now. Signing contracts don't mean nothing if the federal law says different.

[Combat Talk Radio]

I'm one who thinks that could be a huge problem. Can you see a Boxing Commission license a fight between a guy who is 0-0 making his debut against a guy whose 49-0 and considered the best ever????

Don't see how it's any different from an MMA commission sanctioning a multiple time champion with nearly 30 fights (Randy Couture) facing a 0-0 boxer (James Toney).

I mean at least Mickey Gall and CM Punk were close in fight rankings despite being wide in skill level distance.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Not really.

There are many orgs (for lack of a better word) putting on fights. All those guys would have to unionize too, and I just cant see that happening.

Your second part I think actually touches on it, but it looks like you weren't aware of how many other companies besides UFC put on fights.

No, those other leagues wouldn't have to unionize..

NFL has a union.. arena, and semi pro leagues do not.

The bigger you are, the more likely you will have unions. And honestly it's a trade-off for an anti-trust exemption so they can have a monopoly. All the major sports organizations will gladly take the anti-trust exemption for the cost of union labor

[Eff Pandas]

That, and he'd still need to get licensed and an opponent approved.

I'm one who thinks that could be a huge problem. Can you see a Boxing Commission license a fight between a guy who is 0-0 making his debut against a guy whose 49-0 and considered the best ever????

I've been one who expected this to be an issue too, but apparently its not. Seen this in the paper today that surprised me although I guess it shouldn't have cuz money.

Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Bob Bennett told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday evening that he doesn't "anticipate any issues" in regards to the sanctioning of the possible Mayweather-McGregor bout.

"That's certainly a fight that we would approve and have in Vegas," Bennett said. "Who wouldn't want to regulate the two best fighters at 150 pounds in their respective unarmed combat fields? Mayweather's a phenomenal fighter, and so is McGregor. Sure, that's a fight we would approve."

McGregor is one of the best mixed-martial arts fighters in the world, but he's never boxed in the amateur or pro ranks. Many experts believed the commission would be hesitant to approve such a bout, but clearly, that isn't the case.