Zuffa taking steps to stop a fighter union

[Liquidrob]

Officials from Zuffa LLC, the UFC and Strikeforce's parent company, today announced all of its contracted fighters now get accident-insurance coverage. The company's fighters learned of the additional coverage today at the four-day "fighter summit" in Las Vegas.

That means training injuries – which are costly and not previously covered by their independent-contractor agreements – will be picked up by the organization.

"Our athletes are some of the very best in the world, and we've committed significant financial resources to provide them with insurance that complements the gold standard we have set for event-related coverage," UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta stated in today's announcement. "We're pleased to provide coverage that enables our athletes to seek and receive treatment for injuries sustained while preparing for bouts."

 

[Liquidrob]

mmafighting article

http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/05/09/ufc-announces-new-insurance-for-fighters/

 

[EmpireWF]

There was no movement to create a union anyway.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Yeah with no real uprising for a union this has to be considered a very positive thing.

 

[Liquidrob]

lol @ you guys thinking there is no union talk, first rule of union talk is not to have union talk

Randy already mentioned it though, he is a zuffa sell out and tipped them off

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

In todays age of information its nearly impossible to keep these kind of things on the wraps. Ive heard little to no talk of a fighters union in all my years of following the sport, for whatever reason.

 

[Liquidrob]

A lot of articles have surfaced lately regarding a fighters union, Lorenzo Fertitta has answered questions on it, Randy said there will be union fight, etc...

to think these guys are not talking aout union is just silly

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Well knowledge me then son, because I havent been seeing much talk at all. Ive heard Randy talk about it, ive heard Dana questioned abt it by a reporter once I beleive, other then that, nothing. Having a convo over lunch and casually mentioning a union doesnt mean any steps are being put in place to do so.

 

[EmpireWF]

Of course there is mention of the possibility every now and again, but that means less than nothing.

To think top fighters will sacrifice their big $$$ to help the lower level guys is insane. Why would GSP, Silva, Brock, Couture, etc. put their six-figures plus at risk?

Besides, similarly to talk about it whenever it's brought up in pro wrestling, the old argument goes....you can't get 10 guys to agree on where to go for dinner, how the hell are you gonna get hundreds if not thousands of guys to agree on things like health insurance, life insurance, investments, bonuses, salaries, etc.?

 

[Liquidrob]

thats why zuffa did this, you think it was just to be nice? lol

 

[EmpireWF]

thats why zuffa did this, you think it was just to be nice? lol

Perhaps that had some impact on their decision making, but no way was it the dominating factor.

But rob, you gotta acknowledge this is a damn good deal for Zuffa fighters.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Yeah, you know the Union is not a real possiblity, so why turn this into a negative? This is great news for fighters.

 

[BigBiss]

helping lower income guys stick around to become stars or just plain stick around to fill out cards is a good move

 

[Liquidrob]

I never said it was a negative, just giving you the real story and not the zuffa pr side

It's a good move, but more than likely the money gets shuffled around from somewhere else, maybe less 'back room' bonuses or something, they just aint handing out free money without a catch

When the guys in a sport have a high risk of injury, no beneifits and lower wages for the majority of fighters they need something, a union or at least the threat of a union to keep things even

Zuffa already keeps the most money out of any sport, time to start paying the fighters back, all of them

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Well if they want to establish themselves as a legit sport, this kind of thing is highly necessary, so im sure that plays a big part in what they're doing. I know you like to think its an evil empire, and they're definitely in it to make money for themselves, no doubt, but its important for them to protect their fighters and they have the money to do it, so its a good gesture. Yeah it may need to skim some off fight bonuses, but those seem to be larger then ever lately.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

You think if Strikeforce had done this, say, 6 months ago, that rob's thread title might have been a little different?

 

[SHOGUN]

LOL. In no way is this a bad thing.

Kudos to ZUFFA for stepping up.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

One downside, is you will see guys pulling out of fights more frequently.

 

[Liquidrob]

You think if Strikeforce had done this, say, 6 months ago, that rob's thread title might have been a little different?

of course it would have been , if SF did it it would force the much bigger company (the UFC) to go above and beyond, would have been great(er) for the sport, now the UFC could just do what they want and have the fighters clap like trained seals before them

 

[EmpireWF]

of course it would have been , if SF did it it would force the much bigger company (the UFC) to go above and beyond, would have been great(er) for the sport, now the UFC could just do what they want and have the fighters clap like trained seals before them

...because the fighters should be pissed they won't have to pay out of pocket if they're hurt?

I don't get why you're on them for this.