Morning Report: Dana White on formation of a possible fighter's union: 'Good luck to ya'
UFC President Dana White said that he doesn't care one way or the other whether UFC fighters unionize.
One of the biggest stories of 2016 has been the emerging support among UFC fighters to unionize on some level. Though efforts to form a fighter's association have been around for over a decade, the sale of the UFC from Zuffa to WME-IMG earlier this year for $4 billion emboldened many fighters to make substantive movement towards a union. It also brought the interest of outside actors like baseball agent Jeff Borris who began building the Professional Fighter's Association (PFA). Two weeks ago, the PFA announced its intention to appoint an interim executive board made up of nine current UFC fighters, something it says will kick start the next step of the unionization process.
Well, UFC President Dana White sounds less than enthused. Speaking with Jim Rome yesterday on a special SiriusXM Town Hall, White channeled his inner Liam Neeson when responding to a question about his thoughts on what Borris and some fighters are attempting to accomplish.
"Good luck to ya. The fighting business is so different - this is an individual sport, this isn't a team sport. It's completely different. Let me tell you what. These fighters have managers for one fight and they fire them and then they're on to the next guy. It's a lot of crazy stuff that goes on in this business.
"But at the end of the day do I care about a union? I've got to negotiate with somebody. A union wouldn't be my problem, the union would be the fighters' problem."
The big driver behind current unionization efforts is the hefty price tag on the UFC. Selling for $4 billion gave a concrete value by which fighters could judge their worth and, for many, the math doesn't add up. Much of the UFC bookkeeping isn't publicly available but some estimates put the fighters collectively earning only 15 percent of UFC revenue, a big difference from the 50 percent earned by athletes in many other major sports leagues.
But the PFA is a long way from a done deal. First they have to file with the National Labor Relations Board and that requires having at least 30 percent of the UFC roster sign authorization cards (essentially, proof of joining the ranks). They also first have to have get a court to declare that UFC fighters are actual employees and not independent contractors, a legal argument which picked up steam for the fighters last year with the implementation of the UFC-Reebok deal and fighter uniforms.
White though - who has a history of disagreements with unions - urged caution for the fighters.
"Unions don't necessarily make things better, you know what I mean? Careful what you wish for... I couldn't care either way. I could care less. It doesn't matter to me."
A dramatic increase in revenue sharing among the fighters figures to cut into the company's overall profits which would actually by quite bad for White. With the UFC acquisition, WME-IMG took on debt with the end result being that they need to make potentially as much as $137 million a year just to pay off just the interest and that doesn't include paying off the debt itself. Furthermore, Dana White's newly restructured UFC deal is for five years earning a salary of 9 percent of the net profits of the company.
No wonder he doesn't sound enthused.
MUST-READ STORIES
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Rhett Butler. Shinya Aoki would love a trilogy with Eddie Alvarez but doesn't "give a damn" about the UFC.
MEDIA STEW
Embedded 4.
Presser highlights ICYMI.
Double shot of Cowherd and his new wealth of UFC knowledge.
Stipe on Undisputed.
And Miesha.
President-elect might be at UFC 205.
MJ talking title shot.
LISTEN UP
Three Amigos w/ Jim Miller
TFATK
MMA Mad with Liz Carmouche.
TWEETS
Rhyming like Ali
I'm a fucking pimp, rocking all white Gucci mink, and without me, this whole fucking ship sink pic.twitter.com/XV94e40RSL
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 11, 2016
Dressing like Frazier.
McGregor a sharp muddafugga, knows his combat sports history. Outfit today was inspired by Joe Frazier, 1974, prior to the Ali fight at MSG: pic.twitter.com/6GLpi9c1ig
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) November 11, 2016
Nice.
@Maclifeofficial I'm from the hood. I know when a street fight about to pop off! @TheNotoriousMMA @Ealvarezfight@ufc #ufc205 #ufcnyc pic.twitter.com/LzQNjFSEEt
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) November 10, 2016
Well that was Fun !! That You guys for coming out ...Even the Irish telling me Fuck you was enjoyable ... I am Blessed
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) November 10, 2016
T-Wood could be a real good champ for the UFC if he gets past Wonderboy and gets a push.
We Both Got Hands! @obj & #TheChosenOne he said #HeGotMyBack & will be at the fight! @ufc #ufc #ufc205#AndStill #ufcNYC @affliction pic.twitter.com/rLGkBTdvEP
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) November 10, 2016
I can't wait #ufc207 pronta pic.twitter.com/8jJF9NeElE
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) November 10, 2016
Cool to see.
Ten years ago we had a problem, but nothing better in life than to evolve professionally and spiritually! Nice to meet you pic.twitter.com/O58wH8vXFZ
— Cristiano Marcello (@CristianoBJJ) November 10, 2016
The latest edition of "Sage standing next to things."
Walking down the Streets of Manhattan pic.twitter.com/0w7dcEK1rh
— Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) November 11, 2016
I should be cleared to fight by February. I would do whatever it takes to fight on the Brooklyn card. @ufc@seanshelby #NYMMA
— Ryan LaFlare (@RLaFlare) November 10, 2016
Dagger.
This is pretty cool.
Shredded.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Irene Aldana (7-2) vs. Leslie Smith (8-7-1); UFC on Fox 22, December 17.
FINAL THOUGHTS
MMA conspiracy alert: Eddie was in on it and left the stage to set up Conor taking his belt and the promotional boost they might get from it. I base that on literally nothing.
It's almost there everyone. Make sure to watch Bellator tonight - very cool things happen in the main event - and enjoy the weekend.
Oh, and tomorrow will be the 22nd anniversary of UFC 1. How far we've come.
If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.