Managers express concerns over Bellator contracts

During the fight between the UFC and Bellator over Gil Melendez earlier this year, UFC president Dana White offered some pointed words about Bellator contracts.

"If Melendez f---ing signs a deal with those guys, he ain’t going anywhere," said White at the UFC 170 pre fight media scrum as transcribed by B/R. "Nobody can get out of those f---ing deals they have, and Viacom will sue you until you f---ing bleed. That’s a whole other ballgame over there."

Fighting's exciting, but contract law is not. However, not everything exciting is important, and not everything important is exciting.

Contracts in boxing became so onerous that a Federal law, The Muhammad Ali Act, was passed by Sen. John McCain, who called the contracts typically in effect in the industry "nothing more than a sophisticated version of indentured servitude." Boxing contracts were typically for two to four years, but would extend automatically.

John S. Nash did a detailed analysis of Bellator contracts for BloodyElbow. If you really care about fighters in this sport, go to the bottom and use the link to read the entire thing, rather than just the excerpt below.

According to some fighters and managers Bellator contracts are the stickiest they've seen.

The most objectionable part of the contract, according to a consensus from my sources, was found in what many refer to as the "champion clause." Back in September of 2009, MMAPayout posted the text for this clause, which read:

"If, at any time during the term, FIGHTER is declared the champion of his weight class, a Tournament winner, or a Tournament runner-up, the Term shall be automatically extended for a period commencing on the Termination Date and ending on the earlier of (i) eighteen (18) months from the Termination Date, or (ii) the date in which FIGHTER has participated in three (3) bouts promoted by PROMOTER following the Termination Date ("Extension Term"). Any reference to the Term herein shall be deemed to include a reference to the extension term where applicable."

Fighting under these terms, Eddie Alvarez, Hector Lombard, and Ben Askren - all of whom were tournament winners and a champion in their weight class - saw three additional fights added to their agreement as part of the extension detailed above. Once these additional bouts were completed though each was free to contact and negotiate with other promoters (although Bellator did retain matching rights). While the tournament wins and time as champions obviously increased Lombard and Alvarez's value, as evidenced by the rather lucrative (by MMA standards) deals they ended up receiving, current and future Bellator champions are unlikely to have the same opportunity to cash in on their in-cage success.

According to our sources, Bellator has informed the fighters and managers that this extension can be enacted each time a fighter is declared "the champion of his weight class, a Tournament winner, or a Tournament runner-up" and that the extensions accumulate. What this means is that a tournament winner who then fought and won a Bellator title would have two extensions added to his contract, one for being declared a Tournament winner and one for being declared a champion of his weight class. There also does not seem to be a limit to the number of extensions that can accumulate, so that a fighter who wins or reaches the finals of multiple tournaments or who wins the championship on separate occasions or in different weight classes could have 3, 4, or even more extensions added to his deal.

MMA promotional agreements, including those for Bellator, typical come with a guaranteed number of bouts during the contracted period. But for the "Extension Terms" in the Bellator contracts we examined there doesn't seem to be any minimum bout requirements. The fear that one manager expressed was that Bellator would not be obligated to provide any fights for the duration of the twelve or eighteen-month extension.

In addition, Bellator has added an option clause to many of their agreements that gives them the right to continue promoting a fighter for an additional bout ("Option Bout") if the fighter is a champion in his weight class at the end of his contact. To exercise this option Bellator only has to give written notice to the fighter and pay an option fee.

If the fighter wins this first Option Bout, or the fight ends in a draw or no decision, Bellator has the option for a second Option Bout, which they can exercise by giving the fighter written notice within a set number of business days and paying another option fee. If the fighter wins (or if it ends in a draw or no decision) this next Option Bout, they have an option for yet another bout. The total number of potential Option Bouts for a Bellator champion could be as high as 5 or more.

What does this mean for a promising fighter who signs a 6-fight, 24-month contract with Bellator and has hopes of eventually testing the open market or going to another promotion? Well, if they win their tournament and then win the title, Bellator could interpret this as extending the deal for an additional 6-fights or 24-months. And if the fighter were the champion after meeting the requirements of these extensions the promoter would possibly have the option for up to five additional bouts. Thus the original 6-fights agreement could turn into one for 17-fights or even more, lasting for years.

The opinion amongst all the managers I spoke to is that the current Bellator contracts represent, from a fighter's perspective, the least favorable contracts of any promotion. As one manager said, "They are the worst contracts in MMA. By far the very f---ing worst."

When asked why they would allow their fighters to sign agreements they viewed as being unfair, almost all the managers I spoke to replied that 1) they only learned that Bellator viewed the extension term as accumulating after the fact; 2) their fighters had little option. As disliked as Bellator's contracts are (and the UFC's were not above criticism either) they represent an opportunity for a fighter to get exposure for sponsorships and potential advancement in an MMA landscape were those are few and far between.

The situation, according to one manager, was that fighters were stuck between one promotion that has no competition and thus feels no need to make a worthwhile offer and another promotion that can't compete and resorts to preventing its fighters from leaving via use of their contracts.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/5/20/5715082/bellator-contract-mma-ali-act-business-fighters-managers-eddie-alvarez-askren-lombard

I notice this thread is getting no recognition. I wonder why? It is a shame that Bellator/Viacom is just as if not more crooked than Zuffa when it comes to keeping their fighters under contract.

It´s great Bellator is trying to keep their fighters unlike all the Zuffa feeder leagues. People are just pissed off because Bellator won´t bend over for Zuffa like everyone else.

I knew this was coming.

The UFC is threatened by Bellator. Their going to send the Zuffa controlled media to attack and spread false rumors about Bellator.

You don't see anybody in the mma media writing articles about Zuffa's contracts. The shady history of how Zuffa purchased the UFC and Lorenzo serving on the boxing commission. The Fertitta's alleged ties to organized crime. Nobody will mention June White and her book...there are mma forums where if you mention her name the posts are deleted and you get banned.


Saying all that. I don't think Bellator is a perfect company. It's just interesting how mma media is writing negative stories about Bellator and their business practices but chooses to not do the same for Zuffa.

Golden Age wrote:It´s great Bellator is trying to keep their fighters unlike all the Zuffa feeder leagues. People are just pissed off because Bellator won´t bend over for Zuffa like everyone else.

The problem with this though, is many of these fighters have the UFC as their ultimate goal. So in your eyes it is no longer about the fighters anymore?

TeamJohnPerretti wrote:You don't see anybody in the mma media writing articles about Zuffa's contracts. The shady history of how Zuffa purchased the UFC and Lorenzo serving on the boxing commission. The Fertitta's alleged ties to organized crime. Nobody will mention June White and her book...there are mma forums where if you mention her name the posts are deleted and you get banned.

Add UFC feeder leagues and UFC front companies like WSOF to the list of things mma media won't cover.

Jose Cansayflows wrote:

Golden Age wrote:It´s great Bellator is trying to keep their fighters unlike all the Zuffa feeder leagues. People are just pissed off because Bellator won´t bend over for Zuffa like everyone else.

The problem with this though, is many of these fighters have the UFC as their ultimate goal. So in your eyes it is no longer about the fighters anymore?

This is exactly what´s fucked up about mma. Most fighters and especially their managers want to sign with Zuffa because they´re the face of the sport and completely dominate the market. To the fighters/managers it´s all about Ultimate fighting.

 

Golden Age wrote:

Jose Cansayflows wrote:

Golden Age wrote:It´s great Bellator is trying to keep their fighters unlike all the Zuffa feeder leagues. People are just pissed off because Bellator won´t bend over for Zuffa like everyone else.

The problem with this though, is many of these fighters have the UFC as their ultimate goal. So in your eyes it is no longer about the fighters anymore?

This is exactly what´s fucked up about mma. Most fighters and especially their managers want to sign with Zuffa because they´re the face of the sport and completely dominate the market. To the fighters/managers it´s all about Ultimate fighting.

 

pat Miletich spoke about this situation.He also say that MMA need other successes promotion for mma landscape.

kayneoTheRisingWarrior wrote:

Golden Age wrote:

Jose Cansayflows wrote:

Golden Age wrote:It´s great Bellator is trying to keep their fighters unlike all the Zuffa feeder leagues. People are just pissed off because Bellator won´t bend over for Zuffa like everyone else.

The problem with this though, is many of these fighters have the UFC as their ultimate goal. So in your eyes it is no longer about the fighters anymore?

This is exactly what´s fucked up about mma. Most fighters and especially their managers want to sign with Zuffa because they´re the face of the sport and completely dominate the market. To the fighters/managers it´s all about Ultimate fighting.

 

pat Miletich spoke about this situation.He also say that MMA need other successes promotion for mma landscape.

Pat knows what´s up. If fans want to see Dana keep running his mouth and Zuffa to be the only place to go it´s up to them. Personally I want Dana to get his shit pushed in by other promoters just like I wanted Don King to fail in life.

You still didn't answer my question. In your opinion it is no longer about the fighters?

Jose Cansayflows wrote:You still didn't answer my question. In your opinion it is no longer about the fighters?

Can you read? I just explained to you that most fighters/managers want to sign with Zuffa because they have no other options. UFC is way, way bigger than all other promotions and if you fight there you get most exposure.

How can you not understand that Zuffa controlling the sport and the fighters is negative?

You have still yet to answer the question. If the fighters and their management want to be a part of the UFC and that is their dream or goal then why would anyone including Bellator try to stop them from achieving their goal? Unless to you it is no longer about the fighters and ONLY about destroying Zuffa.

The fighters don't give a shit about themselves so why should the fans Jose? Until these uneducated people (in multiple senses) stop blindly looking at the UFC as some sort of Eden then yes, unfortunately; for me personally, it becomes less about supporting the fighters at times and more about not supporting Zuffa. I understand some fighters are just doing what they have to do because they know no other way to survive so they don't care what happens to themselves but there are some fucking intellectually smart fighters out there that are willingly bending over and taking a removal of identity or they're trying to play the Zuffa wannabe illuminati game.  

I don't enjoy the UFC as much as I used to and I prefer other versions of MMA more now so I don't feel the UFC product needs anymore support, if not less. I don't understand why a person/fighter would logically choose to help such a product by removing any potential brand they could build up for themselves. I've seen the UFC strip so many people of their personalities and identities as fighters over the past few years, it's frustrating. And now they're trying strip all identity from MMA as a whole, they're trying to pawn it off as some sport when it's not a real fucking sport because THE FIGHTERS HAVE NO POWER(financially and influentially) beyond the wisp of hope to become noticed after an uncertain 3-10 consecutive wins amongst watered down divisions. WHY WOULD A FIGHTER/HUMAN GAMBLE WITH THEIR LIVELIHOOD TO BE LEFT WITH NOTHING IN THE END? Be left with fucking fighting in Titan FC to get back to the company that owns your identity for the entirety of existence, SOUNDS PERFECTLY MORALLY CORRECT! So all that leaves me questioning, do I want to support these fighters anymore?

I don't think everyone should have to consider all these things though. Honestly the politics has ruined some of the spectatorship of MMA for me. If you can just enjoy fights for the basic level then good for you and if you can find fighters with enough personality to make you want to support them then good! I still hold onto some guys I like supporting, but generally all that over thinking now just makes me want to watch boxing where the main worry is shit judges and the corruption is overall sexier.
 
Corruption is always more fun when more people have the money!

Zuffa contract makes bellator have to have a similar iron clad contract otherwise they are susceptible to fighter snatching.

In otherwords the BS always follows back to zuffa.

You have still yet to answer the question. If the fighters and their management want to be a part of the UFC and that is their dream or goal then why would anyone including Bellator try to stop them from achieving their goal?



The only reason its a goal is they dont know any better when bellator has same value it wont be the case.

Fighters think ufc will bring huge payday and validation but its mediocre pay and u don't get promoted.

You can make more money fighting 6-7 times a year in m-1 and euro companies then you can in ufc fighting the standard 3 fights a year.

Jose Cansayflows wrote:Unless to you it is no longer about the fighters and ONLY about destroying Zuffa.

Zuffa does need to be destroyed, they are terrible for the sport.

They don't promote the fighters they promote their own brand. First and foremost in their promoting/advertising it's about the UFC name. Other than a couple top stars Zuffa doesn't pay well at all.

MMA needs multiple competing companies so there are options for the fighters.

Supporting Zuffa only increases the chance of keeping this system where there's the UFC and a bunch of feeder leagues for the UFC.

If managers want to speak out against B'tor's contracts after the fact then they've only got themselves to blame for signing their clients to them.

And ensuring measures that a champion does not leave whilst they still hold their titles is pretty much standard practice in MMA promotions. The UFC does the same thing.

Beautiful lol^^^^^^

eXtv wrote:If managers want to speak out against B'tor's contracts after the fact then they've only got themselves to blame for signing their clients to them.

Great post.


  

eXtv wrote:If managers want to speak out against B'tor's contracts after the fact then they've only got themselves to blame for signing their clients to them.

And ensuring measures that a champion does not leave whilst they still hold their titles is pretty much standard practice in MMA promotions. The UFC does the same thing.

My point exactly. Bellator, UFC, etc all practice similar policies. The point of all this is that all of you believe the UFC is the devil and all other promotions are angels.

Jose Cansayflows wrote:The point of all this is that all of you believe the UFC is the devil and all other promotions are angels.

Literally no one believes that. Generic and weak low level trolling from you.

iforgotmypassword wrote:

Jose Cansayflows wrote:The point of all this is that all of you believe the UFC is the devil and all other promotions are angels.

Literally no one believes that. Generic and weak low level trolling from you.

Yet instead of questioning the nature of the contracts that these managers are complaining about the only argument any of you have is "good as long as the UFC can't poach their fighters" or "the UFC does it too".

Once again. Do none of you care about the fighters and what they and their team want?

Jose Cansayflows wrote:

iforgotmypassword wrote:

Jose Cansayflows wrote:The point of all this is that all of you believe the UFC is the devil and all other promotions are angels.

Literally no one believes that. Generic and weak low level trolling from you.

Yet instead of questioning the nature of the contracts that these managers are complaining about the only argument any of you have is "good as long as the UFC can't poach their fighters" or "the UFC does it too".

Once again. Do none of you care about the fighters and what they and their team want?

You honor the contract you signed or you get sued. You dont like the contract you dont sign it. This is how the real world works. Why should fighters play by different rules compared to the rest of the world?

Ok so you don't give a fuck about the fighters. Thanks for clearing that up.

Jose Cansayflows wrote:Ok so you don't give a fuck about the fighters. Thanks for clearing that up.

generic troll