The MMA (MMAAA) game just got changed. In weird alternate reality, that we currently reside in Bjorn Rebney is leading the charge to improve working conditions for the UFC roster. What a time to be alive.
Today on a media conference call The Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association, or MMAAA for short, was formed by five powerful UFC fighters. The five-member board of the MMAAA is made up of Georges Dt-Pierre, Cain Velasquez, TJ Dillashaw, Tim Kennedy and Cowboy Cerrone. Five different fighters from five different background have come together for the common good of the entire UFC roster.
Who would have thought these five dudes plus the former president of Bellator are together on the front lines of what will surely be a labor war with the UFC. Check out the highlights straight from the mouths of the leaders of the new association, the MMAAA, that may change how the UFC runs it business going forward.
Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association. That's the name of the new union that's being started.
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) November 30, 2016
Kennedy-The UFC lacks benefits & the system is one-sided. The only thing fighters can be sure of is they'll have live a lifetime of injuries
— Heidi Fang (@HeidiFang) November 30, 2016
Tim Kennedy introduces James Quinn as the attorney working with this group, aka GSP's lawyer. Heavy, heavy hitter.
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) November 30, 2016
Not surprising, Jim Quinn, St-Pierre's attorney, is part of this association being announced today.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) November 30, 2016
GSP says fighters only make 8 percent of revenue. Drops Conor McGregor's name. #MMAAA
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) November 30, 2016
GSP: We are here to take a stand and fight for the fighters who are afraid to get fired, afraid to get left broken with no insurance or care
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) November 30, 2016
GSP — "UFC, without the fighters, is just 3 letters of the alphabet".
— FrontRowBrian (@FrontRowBrian) November 30, 2016
Donald Cerrone up next.
"I didn't write a speech. Fuck, I wish I had."
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) November 30, 2016
Dillashaw: It would be nice to have a plan after fighting. I have to pay for health insurance for myself right now
— Jason Floyd (@Jason_Floyd) November 30, 2016
Cain Velasquez is on now. Talking about the 7 surgeries he's had and he is scheduled for another surgery after his next fight.
— Michael Stets (@Michael_Stets) November 30, 2016
Cain Velasquez has already scheduled his next surgery.
That is not a joke.#MMAAA
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) November 30, 2016
Bjorn Rebney says the numbers are the evidence of the wrong. The one sided way the UFC has treated their athletes.
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) November 30, 2016
Fighters on the call say they only get 8% of UFC revenue. Remember Lorenzo Fertitta told ESPN several years ago it was closer to 50%.
— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) November 30, 2016
Rebney: No. We are not forming a union. We are an association.
— Heidi Fang (@HeidiFang) November 30, 2016
The words "Labor strike" have now been dropped as a potential option. Obviously not imminent, but it's now been mentioned.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) November 30, 2016
Rebney says they are going to get a settlement for past and present fighters and get a CBA comparable to MLB and NFL.
— Michael Stets (@Michael_Stets) November 30, 2016
GSP: I know a lot of the agents & fighters will be threatened by UFC. I make that my personal fight. We’re not going to be bought to shut up
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) November 30, 2016
Kennedy says Bjorn Rebney is not on the board and won't have a vote.
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) November 30, 2016
Complete audio of the conference call below