Fitch amongst others cut by the UFC

RutgersBJJ · Post #1 » by **RutgersBJJ** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:11 am

Fitch a consensus top 3 WW in the world has been cut by the UFC for refusing to sign his life over to them through licensing contracts. Other AKA fighters are figured to be cut as well since the problem seems to be that their agents are doing the right thing and advising their fighters not to sign licensing agreements without the proper monetary compensation in return.

I figured this story was bull at first, but apparently it is the real deal.

Look for the future HW champ of the UFC cain Velasquez to be cut as well. Mike Swick will not be cut, he signed his life away to the UFC because he is a bitch that refuses to engage and produces boring fights at WW. Koscheck will most likely be cut after his fight in December.

All because Dana White promised THQ all of his fighters will be signed to permanent deals to be in these video games that look like they will be terrible.

It will be interesting to see what happens when an elite fighter that also happens to be a name the casual fans know like GSP refuses to sign this arrangement. GSP has talked about leaving the UFC before, and the fact that GSP is now represented by CAA, and there is no way they would let him make a terrible business decision like this.

Just more bull from the UFC playing hard ball and using their complete market share in the US to swindle the fighters.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/tem ... 0&zoneid=2

Well I guess there will be some fighters we can look forward towards being on Affliction's January event or on FEG's NYE event.

Post #2 » by **CPT** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:29 am

Very surprising news.

It sucks that the UFC would cut such a talented fighter over an issue like this, but at the same time, fighters and their management have to know that playing hardball with the UFC over something like this probably isn't the best idea either.

I usually side with the UFC on issues like fighter pay, contracts, etc, but this one is pretty hard to defend.

RutgersBJJ · Post #3 » by **RutgersBJJ** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:31 am

looks like they are blackballing all of AKA as well.

apparently GSP has not, and will not sign this agreement as I previously figured, so it will be interesting to see what happens.

maybe EA can make a video game and actually have it be a simulation game instead of the stupid wrestling arcade rip off this game looks like.

cowboyronnie · Post #4 » by **cowboyronnie** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:03 pm

how does the UFC spin this?

Carlos Condit and Jake Shields will keep Fitch busy. Diaz, Sakurai...

He seems too big for Mach, though.

jTF2 · Post #5 » by **jTF2** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:22 pm

The pitfalls of monopolism.

Cammo101 · Post #6 » by **Cammo101** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:40 pm

The UFC does stuff like this all the time, but for some reason, this one is tough to swallow. Not only is Fitch a top 3 Welterweight, but he is a home grown UFC guy. He is the kind of guy you thought would be a UFC lifer.

I understand the rational for the UFC here, but they may have made a tactical mistake. This move helps Afflicition more than just cutting Fitch out of the videogame would have hurt the UFC.

jTF2 · Post #7 » by **jTF2** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:09 pm

agreed, this is the kind of move that turns off the MMA base. Dana can do fine without the hardcore fans but not in the long run.

2009NBAChamps · Post #8 » by **2009NBAChamps** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:00 pm

I've been reading quite a bit on MMA lately, and maybe it's just me but Dana White seems like a real a-hole.

I mean I get that he's just promoting his company, but to knock other guys like in the P4P discussion I read an article where he said Fedor wasn't even the top HW but would be among the top HW in UFC...

Seems a little to pompus for my liking and I hope this latest move on hardballing his fighters comes back to haunt him.

ALSO, I believe he hates Cain Velasquez because of him requesting some standard language be removed from his contract or w/e, so it's quite possible they him go as well...

Cammo101 · Post #9 » by **Cammo101** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:21 pm

Dana is a bit rough around the edges and not afraid to speak his mind, but he is a very smart business man who built this sport from the ground up.

As far as the Dana vs. AKA (Fitch, Cain...) fight, people are not getting the whole story. Supposedly these AKA guys have been making crazy demands for years now. Dana just now picked his spot to stand up and flex his muscle.

Fitch and the UFC are already talking again and it looks like he will be going nowhere. If this is true, then Dana is a genius. He showed he will not be triffled with and didn't even lose his guy.

The UFC is the only game in town, so they can do things like this. Make no mistake though, guys like Fitch and Cain have Dana White to thank for the fact that make over 100,000 a year, so I have no problem with the UFC asking some things from them in return every once in a while.

Fitch's management should have been smarter about handling this. Fitch stands to lose roughly 80% of his sponsorship money if he leaves the UFC, so maybe signing off on the video game is a small price to pay not to lose all that sponsor money.

2009NBAChamps · Post #10 » by **2009NBAChamps** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:26 pm

I'm aware of what he's done for MMA as a whole, just saying he comes off as an a$$ from his interviews.

But if you want to talk about crazy demands, don't you think the lifetime contract is a bit absurd to ask for? It is essentially selling your soul, with no safety net to fall back on, should anything happen to the fighters.

Cammo101 · Post #11 » by **Cammo101** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:39 pm

2009NBAChamps wrote:I'm aware of what he's done for MMA as a whole, just saying he comes off as an a$$ from his interviews.

But if you want to talk about crazy demands, don't you think the lifetime contract is a bit absurd to ask for? It is essentially selling your soul, with no safety net to fall back on, should anything happen to the fighters.

This sounds worse than it actually is. What possible situation will it matter if John Fitch has his video game right 10 years down the line? John Fitch's Grappling for Wii?

Fitch has every right to take a stand here, but he is essentially costing himself a ton of money and exposure to save a right he will never, ever, use in the future. It is an idiot fight.

Dana comes off as an ahole sometimes to be sure, but I love his passion for MMA.

Post #12 » by **Headliner** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:47 pm

Dana White Elaborates release of UFC fighters.
November 20, 2008, 1:55 pm

From USA Today:

This is not an attack on Jon Fitch. Its not an attack on any one fighter. We have chosen not to do business with this camp called AKA. These guys have never, ever, ever treated us like partners. Theyre always fighting over stupid, stupid (stuff) and negotiating over stuff that makes no sense. Theyre negotiating like theyve got Mel Gibson and this thing is the biggest movie ever being made. You know what Im saying? The reality is, were not even sanctioned in Massachusetts or New York (and) were going into all these different countries trying to do these different things. And Ive got these guys that basically dont want to be partners with me. Youve got morons ?" morons ?" that are running these fighters lives. But to tell you the truth, one of the fighters from AKA called me and said, Listen, I dont care what these managers say or what theyre doing. I make my own decisions and my decision is, Im with you. Im your partner, Im in. And this was before we even told AKA we wouldnt be doing business with them any more. So this really isnt an attack on Jon Fitch or any personal fighter. Were just choosing not to do business with AKA any more. Were not going to do business with them. And listen, theres other guys out there that they can go do business with; theyre just not going to do business with me. Now theres rumors out there, I know, about, Its over a video game deal. Its over the ancillary rights agreement. Its over this, that.Its over a lot of different things. Its not one specific fighter or one specific thing. Its about a lot of different things with a lot of these fighters. And you know what? This is more than just AKA. Theres other camps out there that were having trouble doing business with. And at the end of the day, this is a business. We run a business just like any other business. You come in, you do your job with your company and you get paid. And the guys that dont want to do business with you ?" then go work somewhere else. Its as easy as that. You dont have to do business with us. Theres other people out there you can do it with.

=================================================

MMAMania.com has the scoop on this breaking story:

Former number one UFC welterweight contender Jon Fitch was today handed his walking papers for refusing to sign an agreement that would give the promotion exclusive lifetime video game rights to his name and likeness, MMAmania.com can exclusively confirm.

American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) team member Christian Wellisch was also released. Others who do not sign the agreement could also be let go in the near future, including stars Cain Velasquez and Josh Koscheck (he will still headline UFC Fight Night 16: Fight for the Troops).

Fitch and members of his camp were not immediately available for comment on the startling development.

While the full details are a little murky at this time, Fitch was apparently approached about the issue when he turned in his signed bout agreement to fight Akihiro Gono at UFC 94: St. Pierre vs. Penn 2? on January 31. And when he and his representatives attempted to negotiate the video game deal it was all or nothing.

He didnt sign it and was terminated shortly therefafter.

=================================================

UFC President Dana White comments on the release of Jon Fitch as well as others from American Kickboxing Academy from the UFC at Yahoosports.com:

Were looking for guys who want to work with us and not against us, and frankly Im just so [expletive"> sick of this [expletive"> its not even funny. Affliction is still out there trying to build its company. Let [Fitch"> go work with them. Let him see what he thinks of those [expletives">. [Expletive"> him. These guys arent partners with us. [Expletive"> them. All of them, every last [expletive"> one of them. Im not a douche bag and I do a lot for these guys, a lot more than any of you will ever know. Were in a horrible time in the economy now, and every guy with two nickels to rub together is making a run at us. Weve worked too hard, given too much, to let certain guys come in and [expletive"> with that.

This story is really starting to heat up. It appears things run much deeper than not wanting to sign video game rights over. No one from AKA has commented yet but that can be expected shortly.

Post #13 » by **CPT** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:25 pm

http://www.tapoutlive.com/images/mags/ufc_legal.pdf

A lawyer's critique of the merchandise rights agreement.

Good read.

El Hardee · Post #14 » by **El Hardee** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:45 pm

Fitch had a big future and Cain is a strait up beast, this really blows. Cain should have never went to AKA, when he 1st started training he started at Arizona Combat with CB and Bader. I remember watching him train, dude is a animal.

Cammo101 · Post #15 » by **Cammo101** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:41 am

And just like that, John Fitch is back in the UFC and signed on the dotted line. Just like Dana White knew would happen all along. And now everyone else will sign it too.

Dana = Genius
John = Smart decision

cowboyronnie · Post #16 » by **cowboyronnie** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:09 am

This makes me sick to my stomach. Greed is not cool, kids. That's not good business.

funkatron101 · Post #17 » by **funkatron101** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:54 pm

Would Dana sign a lifetime agreement like this? Let's say he does, he has a falling out with the UFC, gets fired, and starts up his own promotion. The UFC would still own the rights to his likeness, and therefore he would not be able to be on any marketing material of his own promotion.

It is an absurd agreement. I side with Fitch and the others who refuse to sign this. As Fitch said, it's not about the money. It's about respect, and really being able to own the "rights" to yourself. If it's UFC footage and promotional material that's one thing, but if they can't be in any marketing and promotional materials AFTER you are no longer in the UFC, that is bull. WWE doesn't even pull that crap.

Also, this 6 appearances thing. They don't get paid for those appearances, and it sounds like the UFC doesn't even foot the bill for airfare, hotel, etc.

Cammo101 · Post #18 » by **Cammo101** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:27 pm

funkatron101 wrote:Would Dana sign a lifetime agreement like this? Let's say he does, he has a falling out with the UFC, gets fired, and starts up his own promotion. The UFC would still own the rights to his likeness, and therefore he would not be able to be on any marketing material of his own promotion.

It is an absurd agreement. I side with Fitch and the others who refuse to sign this. As Fitch said, it's not about the money. It's about respect, and really being able to own the "rights" to yourself. If it's UFC footage and promotional material that's one thing, but if they can't be in any marketing and promotional materials AFTER you are no longer in the UFC, that is bull. WWE doesn't even pull that crap.

Also, this 6 appearances thing. They don't get paid for those appearances, and it sounds like the UFC doesn't even foot the bill for airfare, hotel, etc.

Fitch has every right to stand up for himself. And Dana has every right to tell Fitch to take a hike and go fight in Hackensack, Wisconsin in front of 25 people if he doesn't like the UFC's rules. At face value the deal seems unreasonable, but in actuality it really doesn't matter because John Fitch isn't going to be in any other video games anyways.

funkatron101 · Post #19 » by **funkatron101** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 5:05 pm

Cammo101 wrote:
funkatron101 wrote:Would Dana sign a lifetime agreement like this? Let's say he does, he has a falling out with the UFC, gets fired, and starts up his own promotion. The UFC would still own the rights to his likeness, and therefore he would not be able to be on any marketing material of his own promotion.

It is an absurd agreement. I side with Fitch and the others who refuse to sign this. As Fitch said, it's not about the money. It's about respect, and really being able to own the "rights" to yourself. If it's UFC footage and promotional material that's one thing, but if they can't be in any marketing and promotional materials AFTER you are no longer in the UFC, that is bull. WWE doesn't even pull that crap.

Also, this 6 appearances thing. They don't get paid for those appearances, and it sounds like the UFC doesn't even foot the bill for airfare, hotel, etc.

Fitch has every right to stand up for himself. And Dana has every right to tell Fitch to take a hike and go fight in Hackensack, Wisconsin in front of 25 people if he doesn't like the UFC's rules. At face value the deal seems unreasonable, but in actuality it really doesn't matter because John Fitch isn't going to be in any other video games anyways.

Unless he goes over to Japan and signs with Dream. Pride came out with a video game, it's not unrealistic to think that Dream, or any other organization can as well. Especially considering that this appears to be a lifetime agreement and not just for video games. That is a long time, and Fitch is still young enough to put miles on his career.

Dana can tell him to take a hike, but this is just another bully move that puts a black eye on the face of the UFC. If enough guys stand up to this, the UFC will have to negotiate a more reasonable agreement.

Cammo101 · Post #20 » by **Cammo101** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:41 pm

Of course it is a bully move, but it doesn't make UFC look bad. No one outside of a handful of hardcore fans even care about this stuff. The UFC is not doing anything different than any other big company or any other sports federation.

As long as Dream and Afflicition remain small time compared to the UFC, Dana is smart to do these things. He knew Fitch wasn't going anywhere and he used him to send everyone a message that they are not bigger than the UFC.