UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

[sbjj]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

Jeez, if you guys could see all the poor dudes(and women) who are fired from companies for simply just not cutting the companies standards some of you would commit suicide. Why keep Harris around? There are plenty of fighters out there that will come in and go for it(the win). More fighters should be cut. They should cut 15%(at least of their roster). Shit, for all we know, they may just keep CroCop and Baroni around to keep them away from Strikeforce.

They can not lose with cutting a guy like Harris. he goes to Strikeforce, Strikeforce builds him up, and then UFC picks him back up.

[SPX]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

I honestly think that there should be some sort of "employee handbook" that lays it out in black and white. Most companies have that.

[sbjj]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

I think Harris was just unlucky. The Nate-Okami show was very bad...alot of fighters not doing shit. then the Harris fight happened. After the fight all the fans were VERY PISSED off. Dana made an example of him. Now some of the fans who were pissed off at his performance are pissed off he was cut. Poor dude should have just tapped in the first.

[sbjj]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

I honestly think that there should be some sort of "employee handbook" that lays it out in black and white. Most companies have that.

These guys are professionals(kind of). They should go out there and try to win their fights. They should also attempt to finish fights.

[SPX]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

sbjj, are you self-employed or do you work for someone else?

[MMA_scientist]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

I am self employed, and I have worked for others in the past. I understand the need to be able to do business... and i think the LAW is right, that employees can be fired for no reason at all. But there is a reason that employees have a right to unionize, because they continually get hosed by employers. Unions are generally bad for the economy IMO, but they are sometimes needed. Generally, if you are fired for no reason, you have the recourse of unemployment. These guys are contractors, so they don't even have that. In MMA the demand for athletes is not as high as other sports. A guy drafted to the NBA for example, he has negotiating power. The teams want him just as much as he wants in the NBA. In MMA, only Fedor and Brock have bargaining power. Yet people bitch when Fedor actually tries to negotiate...

[SPX]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

Yet people bitch when Fedor actually tries to negotiate...

Fedor asks for too much. Co-promotion?

He's cool and all, but he's just one guy.

[MMA_scientist]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

^ well you don't know what the negotiation was like. They may have seen that as a ridiculous offer, but some of the UFC terms are ridiculous too... my point is that the UFC has all the power in negotiation. Other sports the athletes have some negotiating room. I respect Fedor for not giving in and I hope he never does.

[sbjj]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

sbjj, are you self-employed or do you work for someone else?

I have worked minimum wage jobs, I have worked for a union, I have worked a pure commission job, and currently work for myself. I was somewhat scared of losing my job at all times. I knew I had to perform at all times. The Union(one of the biggest) I worked for did not do shit for me, and the non union workers that worked for the same company made more and recieved two bonuses(nice ones) a year that I did not. they also had a matching 401K that as a union member I could not have. that later changed. IMO, most unions do nothing but feed off the people in them. The company I worked for had the same termination ploicies for union and non union employees.

My philosophy was to always do the best job I could(reasonably), but if he wanted to fire me, screw him, I will find as good a job if not better one somewhere else.

[sbjj]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

^ well you don't know what the negotiation was like. They may have seen that as a ridiculous offer, but some of the UFC terms are ridiculous too... my point is that the UFC has all the power in negotiation. Other sports the athletes have some negotiating room. I respect Fedor for not giving in and I hope he never does.

i think UFC fighters do fine. If I had a company, I would pay a fighter a decent amount to get my name on a UFC card(assuming it is televised). I really think these guys do alright. If they do not, you would not have these guys doing everything they can to make it to the UFC. And I am sure most UFC fighters(the good ones) have at least some leverage. A fighter like Leben could easily make decent money in Strikeforce. The uFC knows that and so in essence he does have leverage.

[SPX]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

i think UFC fighters do fine. If I had a company, I would pay a fighter a decent amount to get my name on a UFC card(assuming it is televised). I really think these guys do alright. If they do not, you would not have these guys doing everything they can to make it to the UFC. And I am sure most UFC fighters(the good ones) have at least some leverage. A fighter like Leben could easily make decent money in Strikeforce. The uFC knows that and so in essence he does have leverage.

The goal is generally to make as much in sponsorships as you do for the fight itself. Some fighters make more. But a lot make less, especially if the fight is not guaranteed to actually get on TV.

[sbjj]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

i think UFC fighters do fine. If I had a company, I would pay a fighter a decent amount to get my name on a UFC card(assuming it is televised). I really think these guys do alright. If they do not, you would not have these guys doing everything they can to make it to the UFC. And I am sure most UFC fighters(the good ones) have at least some leverage. A fighter like Leben could easily make decent money in Strikeforce. The uFC knows that and so in essence he does have leverage.

The goal is generally to make as much in sponsorships as you do for the fight itself. Some fighters make more. But a lot make less, especially if the fight is not guaranteed to actually get on TV.

How do you know. Most sponsors(I would assume) would not want that info. released. And the whole point is to get good enough to make it to T.V.

Why do you think all these wanna be actors have to hold two or three jobs along with trying to become famous.

[MMA_scientist]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

Ultimately you are right, sbjj. They will get paid what the market will bear. As much as we want to believe it is not so, at this point, the market for MMA fighters is not the same as major sports. No one gives a shit about Gerald Harris. Outside of very dedicated fans, no one even knows who he is. I have a buddy that watches every UFC with me, but he doesn't follow it online and what not. He didn't know who Harris was.

His services are being valued at the rate the market dictates.

But, I don't have to like it or think it is the right thing for the UFC to do.

[SPX]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

How do you know. Most sponsors(I would assume) would not want that info. released.

I know because that's what I was told by two different fighters.

You have to remember that I write for an MMA magazine. I have to research a lot of different aspects of the sport and the industry, and I've gotten to talk to a decent handful of people involved with various aspects of the whole thing. I'm still a neophyte but I'm learning a lot pretty quickly.

Including Gerald Harris, who I did a profile on for this month's issue of UMMA, which is probably why I'm pretty defensive about this bullshit the UFC is pulling. I've communicated with him several times now and he's actually a really cool guy. I want to see him treated fairly and reasonably.

[edman5555]

Re: UFC 123 - Machida/Rampage

Can you estimate pay for the average fighter? Not the top 10 guys but the guys just beneath that? How much does a first time ufc fighter get in sponsorships for a televised fight?

I read Sean McCorkle said he got about 25k total for his fight against Hunt.