Bellator Files Lawsuit against UFC Over Rampage

REDDzone · Post #1 » by **REDDzone** » Mon Mar 2, 2015 10:51 pm

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Bellat ... Jr5uDUB.01

I think the most fascinating aspect of all of this is the monopoly lawsuit implications. Is this good or bad? On one hand, ufc is in court with a competitor over the services of an elite athlete. On the other hand, is signing and booking a fighter with an exclusive contract with another promotion just another example of these alleged "anti competitive" acts by the ufc?

REDDzone · Post #2 » by **REDDzone** » Thu Mar 5, 2015 6:40 pm

Can someone link the article showing Rampage's compensation from bellator (I can't at the moment).

its more than i figured. wow.

Devilzsidewalk · Post #3 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Sat Mar 7, 2015 10:18 pm

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2015/3/5/8157221/bellator-ufc-rampage-jackson-injuction-contract-details-rolling-stones

Somewhat preposterous list of perks.

The deal, which was negotiated with then-Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, included a 2013 Tesla Sport worth $129,603, an additional $100,000 signing bonus and guaranteed fight purses beginning at $200,000 and maxing out at $300,000 for non-PPV fights, according to the complaint. Jackson also was to receive between $200,000 and $450,000 for a pay-per-view fight. Bellator also agreed to pay Jackson $50,000 "in the event that he did not receive a certain revenue amount from sponsorships," the complaint said.

His contract also stated that he'd receive four dollars per pay-per-view buy for everything over 190k buys. When he didn't hit that for his Bellator 120 bout, he was still given a $200,000 bonus according to the report. And there's a lot more where that came from - Jackson would get 30% of any Bellator gate over 400k if he was on the card, for one. Here's more:

He got 35k an episode for a four-episode "Rampage 4 Real" reality show on Spike TV.
They were supposed to get him a screenwriter for a movie project, and he met with the president of Paramount in regards to "film opportunities"
He would make an appearance on the red carpet at the 2014 MTV video awards
The promotion paid 250k for a commercial spot on ESPN during the NBA playoffs advertising his PPV bout at Bellator 120
They spent 200k for the rights to a Rolling Stones song to use while advertising Rampage

I wonder what the Rolling Stones song was? Probably Under My Thumb

REDDzone · Post #4 » by **REDDzone** » Sun Apr 5, 2015 12:20 am

A judge will decide on Tuesday if Rampage is free to fight vs Maldanado. Lots and lots of marketing of that fight during the event today, ufc must be confident.

REDDzone · Post #5 » by **REDDzone** » Wed Apr 8, 2015 10:55 pm

Sherdog.com recently obtained a copy of Judge Karen Suter’s order, which states that the promotion “is reasonably likely to succeed on the merits of its breach of contract claim” against Jackson.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Judge- ... CbVZsGB.01

Post #6 » by **blkout** » Thu Apr 9, 2015 12:40 am

I'd love to have sat in on the conversation that got a Tesla involved in his deal. "Yo what's that electric car with the ipad. I want that"

Wo1verine · Post #7 » by **Wo1verine** » Thu Apr 9, 2015 2:32 am

I wonder who the UFC has in mind for a replacement fight? Benson Henderson vs.???

Jasen777 · Post #8 » by **Jasen777** » Thu Apr 9, 2015 2:56 am

Wo1verine wrote:I wonder who the UFC has in mind for a replacement fight? Benson Henderson vs.???

Fabio Maldonado.

REDDzone · Post #9 » by **REDDzone** » Thu Apr 9, 2015 3:05 am

Is this fight in Brazil or another place where the ufc controls the athletic commission? Maybe they could do Maldanado vs another HW in a fight that shouldn't even be sanctioned. What is Travis Browne doing that weekend?

Jasen777 · Post #10 » by **Jasen777** » Thu Apr 9, 2015 3:22 am

It's in Montreal. GSP vs. Benson would save the card.

Devilzsidewalk · Post #11 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Thu Apr 9, 2015 11:18 am

Jasen777 wrote:It's in Montreal. GSP vs. Benson would save the card.

As would David Loiseau vs Patrick Cote. Both are good options.

SDM · Post #12 » by **SDM** » Thu Apr 9, 2015 1:13 pm

They can't take these large-ish, MMA-crazy cities for granted by giving them garbage cards and pulling stunts like this. Lots of money in Montreal and many more places to spend it than in Albuquerque.

REDDzone · Post #13 » by **REDDzone** » Thu Apr 9, 2015 1:20 pm

SDM wrote:They can't take these large-ish, MMA-crazy cities for granted by giving them garbage cards and pulling stunts like this. Lots of money in Montreal and many more places to spend it than in Albuquerque.

Whatever you say, Canadian.

REDDzone · Post #14 » by **REDDzone** » Thu Apr 9, 2015 1:37 pm

Good to see you around btw, board seems kind of slower these days.

SDM · Post #15 » by **SDM** » Thu Apr 9, 2015 2:37 pm

REDDzone wrote:Good to see you around btw, board seems kind of slower these days.

Thanks man! I guess the other members who would post frequently just went, "well, why bother now" and I can't say I blame them. I'm amazing to talk to.

REDDzone · Post #16 » by **REDDzone** » Thu Apr 9, 2015 2:50 pm

SDM wrote:
REDDzone wrote:Good to see you around btw, board seems kind of slower these days.

Thanks man! I guess the other members who would post frequently just went, "well, why bother now" and I can't say I blame them. I'm amazing to talk to.

cbr in particular has been reeling since your departure. I think he called Rampage "profound" or some such adjective in another thread. Clearly off the rails.

SDM · Post #17 » by **SDM** » Thu Apr 9, 2015 2:55 pm

REDDzone wrote:
SDM wrote:
REDDzone wrote:Good to see you around btw, board seems kind of slower these days.

Thanks man! I guess the other members who would post frequently just went, "well, why bother now" and I can't say I blame them. I'm amazing to talk to.

cbr in particular has been reeling since your departure. I think he called Rampage "profound" or some such adjective in another thread. Clearly off the rails.

In his defense, boxercise CAN be stressful.

SDM · Post #18 » by **SDM** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 2:34 am

Steve Bosse is in for Rampage, which is weird and really cool at the same time. For those who don't know, he's a hockey goon from Quebec, fairly popular around the hockey towns there and he's actually a decent last minute replacement for a main event. He has something like 2,000 fights in organized hockey... basically Happy Gilmore if he went into fighting.

He signed with UFC last year and retired suddenly a few weeks ago before his first fight due to an injury, but it looks like he's going to push through it.

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Steve-Bosse-22732

cowboyronnie · Post #19 » by **cowboyronnie** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 9:27 pm

So this was just a tactic to bind Rampage from competing?! The UFC never believed this could be done - that the contract could be breached - but convinced Rampage to do it in order to remove him from Bellator? LOL. Anti-competitive, should be illegal. But LOL!

REDDzone · Post #20 » by **REDDzone** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 9:32 pm

cowboyronnie wrote:So this was just a tactic to bind Rampage from competing?! The UFC never believed this could be done - that the contract could be breached - but convinced Rampage to do it in order to remove him from Bellator? LOL. Anti-competitive, should be illegal. But LOL!

Yep, now bellator's biggest draw is on ice.