Category: From MMAFA

Competition and salaries in professional sports

*Note: This article was originally published March 16, 2010 by Mike Fagan for Bloody Elbow Time and time again fans have uttered the old “competition is great for everyone” argument, and we all know where that comes from. No one is stupid enough to suggest that a second major pro football league or pro basketball […]

UFC Increases Pressure—Contacting Fighters Directly

As I initially wrote about here, the UFC is ambitiously attempting to enter the merchandising arena by essentially stripping fighters of all rights to their likeness, in perpetuity. Multiple sources have indicated that UFC officials are now sending letters to fighters who have not yet signed the Merchandising Rights Agreement. The letter warns fighters that if they […]

Drug Testing, Lives, and Careers:

A Suggestion for the California State Athletic Commission. On July 19, 2008, the Affliction promotion held their debut card in Anaheim, California. The following week, on July 26, 2008, EliteXC held its second “Saturday Night Fights” in Stockton, California. After an initial round of testing for performance enhancing and other illicit drugs was completed, one […]

Billion-Dollar UFC Enters Merchandising in Big Way: Good Deal For Fighters?

Marketing Rights Agreement Highlights In exchange for granting Zuffa the Merchandise Rights, a fighter is entitled to (i) ten percent (10%) of gross revenue for sales of Licensed Merchandise completed by Zuffa, and (ii) twenty percent (20%) of gross revenue for royalties and/or license payments received from third parties. The Agreement grants Zuffa an exclusive […]