olig
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Post by olig on Oct 7, 2016 8:22:04 GMT -5
Do you guys think moving forward there is any merit in this?
Whilst I know it'd be difficult to organise, if the majority of fighters were on a one fight contract then the power would be put back into the fighter's hands somewhat.
The UFC essentially hold all the cards when it comes to the fighters. They have the fighters locked down on multiple contacts, so they can't go elsewhere to fight, meaning they can't get paid unless they accept a fight.
So UFC knows it can wait it out and the fighter has to accept a fight because he needs money. If the fighters all had the ability to negotiate pay for each fight separately they can get a truer sense of their worth and capitalise on a previous good performance by getting their pay upped.
They also have the bargaining power of being able to walk away from the UFC if the offers aren't right.
What do you lot think? I have no real knowledge of contract law or anything like that, so there might be a multitude of reasons why it's not viable.
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Post by ocmmafan on Oct 7, 2016 8:33:58 GMT -5
I don't think that would work. They schedule events months out and it would create problems trying to fill cards - they would be dealing with re-negotiating every fighter, every card. Way too disruptive.
It would be extremely difficult for international fighters dealing with visas. They would have to keep re-filing each time they fight which would be expensive, while right now they can show their contract and get say, 1-2 years with multiple entry since they have a multi-fight contract.
Nothing is stopping a fighter form trying to argue for a single fight contract right now, right? I doubt either side would prefer it though.
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olig
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Posts: 44
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Post by olig on Oct 7, 2016 9:04:28 GMT -5
I don't think that would work. They schedule events months out and it would create problems trying to fill cards - they would be dealing with re-negotiating every fighter, every card. Way too disruptive. It would be extremely difficult for international fighters dealing with visas. They would have to keep re-filing each time they fight which would be expensive, while right now they can show their contract and get say, 1-2 years with multiple entry since they have a multi-fight contract. Nothing is stopping a fighter form trying to argue for a single fight contract right now, right? I doubt either side would prefer it though. Oh I have no doubt it'd be a major pain for the UFC, but from a fighter stand point I saw the benefits of it, in as much as it helps balance out the power somewhat.
The UFC then doesn't just have a huge list of randoms under contract they can just throw on a card to fill a gap last minute, it means the onus on encouraging the fighters to take a fight is put more on the UFC and them offering attractive terms to a fighter.
Fighters are in an actual position to play hardball if they feel they're not getting paid what they deserve, with the back up of fighting around the regional circuit and not being effectively forced to fight due to having signed a contract for 8 fights.
Does that make sense? I suspect it's a bit of a utopian view, but in theory it would help re-dress the balance, in the sense that the UFC is forced to make good offers to fighters as it needs to fill a card it is promoting and if it doesn't make good offers, fighters can say "thanks but no thanks" and sit out until the next one (maybe taking a low level regional fight to stay busy/earn some cash?).
I just feel that the UFC tie these guys to multi fight contracts, so the only way they can earn money is by fighting for the UFC. Everyone likes money, so the UFC use that as leverage to almost force guys to take fights.
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Post by ocmmafan on Oct 7, 2016 9:38:17 GMT -5
well, why would the UFC do that? Every major sports enterprise uses multiple year contracts, with the occasional single season contract (or like a single fight). It may benefit the fighters but I doubt it would ever be seriously considered. It would be a TON of work coming up with negotiated pay after every fight.
Nothing is stopping fighters from playing hardball now and only signing one fight deals. The reality is the UFC would say no and then the fighter could leave and go to Bellator, where they would also say no.
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olig
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Posts: 44
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Post by olig on Oct 7, 2016 16:52:54 GMT -5
well, why would the UFC do that? Every major sports enterprise uses multiple year contracts, with the occasional single season contract (or like a single fight). It may benefit the fighters but I doubt it would ever be seriously considered. It would be a TON of work coming up with negotiated pay after every fight. Nothing is stopping fighters from playing hardball now and only signing one fight deals. The reality is the UFC would say no and then the fighter could leave and go to Bellator, where they would also say no. It could happen over time, free agency doesn't seem so bad for a decent name fighter, so if Bellator does grow into a viable alternative to the UFC then you could see named fighters taking progressively shorter deals?
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