Why I Believe A Lawsuit Against The UFC Is A Bad Idea

I don't think that a class action lawsuit against the UFC is going to end the way the people involved think it will.

I predict that the UFC won't be found guilty of anything... some people might not be happy with the pay, but if you compare pay I'm sure you will see that UFC fighters are getting paid better than what other promotions are paying. Some fighters might not like having to pay taxes on any fight bonuses (or even have to "share" it with managers/corner-men/trainers) but they can't deny being in the UFC pays better than not being in the UFC. The added revenue that will happen from the Reebok deal might take time to fully impact fighter pay... but eventually people will see more money at the end of the day from this deal than before.

BUT the downside I see from people filing a class action lawsuit will most likely will be the UFC cutting a lot of fighters from the active roster.

There are more than 550 fighters & even with all of the proposed UFC events in 2015 that is too many for the promotion to sustain & remain profitable. Whether they have to pay out any money from this lawsuit or not the logical step for self-preservation by the UFC is to get rid of fighters to minimize anyone having a legit complaint that they aren't being paid enough or treated fairly.

I sympathize with the fighters, but they need to realize that this is a business for the promotion in addition to it being a sport. It is a meritocracy not socialism... you get paid what you EARN & you shouldn't expect top dollar for low level performance.

Look at Robbie Lawler... it was reported that he made just over a MILLION DOLLARS for the fights leading up to his rematch with Johny Hendricks. Robbie put in the effort & EARNED that money, nothing was just handed to him.

Sad truth is that not everyone is going to get top dollar... the ones who perform the best deserve the bigger pay. Realistically this lawsuit should be about making sure fighters don't get underpaid... not making some fighters who under-perform get higher pay when they haven't earned it.

I know there will be people who say that I don't know hat I'm talking about (or don't qualify to express these opinions/views) because I'm not a fighter... and I'll answer that now by saying that is a BULLSHIT statement.

I repeat that I sympathize with fighters and that I'm on your side... but I don't think MMA pay should become socialism where everyone gets paid close to the same, especially when some fighters deserve more because they earned it while others don't.

Bottom line:

While this seems like a good idea, I predict that a class action lawsuit against the UFC will do more harm than good. Many fighters "on the bubble" in the UFC will end up getting cut & find themselves getting paid less by other promotions... IF they can even get fights with other promotions. The UFC might have a flawed system in terms of fighter pay, but a lawsuit isn't the right way to correct whatever flaws do exist.

I wish the fighters well, but I don't think a majority will like the end result of whatever happens from a class action lawsuit against the UFC.

Sometimes fighters don't do things in their best interest & become their own worst enemy. Nate Diaz is a prime example. He's one of the best fighters in the division (in any promotion) but he made poor choices that resulted in lower pay & less opportunities. You can't talk shit about the promotion, fail to make press appearances or other obligations to promote your fight for the promotion, come in overweight and lose your fight then expect to either not get offered less or even be cut.

Fighters need to realize what they say & do outside the cage effects what they get paid. It's not just what they do inside the cage, even if that should be most of what determines fighter pay. Someone who does everything the promotion wants/expects like Conor McGregor is going to get rewarded while someone who does everything wrong like Nate Diaz will either get punished or cut.

Sometimes it isn't fair... but life isn't fair. If you're not doing everything you possibly can to increase your chances for success/better pay you mostly have yourself to blame - not the promotion.

While I am sure the UFC could do more, fighters who complain about not getting paid more or treated well most likely aren't doing much to make the UFC want to do more for them.