Antonio McKee wants a fighters union and is battling the UFC

Amazing interview.

Yeah, the college girl thing is funny but that was literally only a few sentences of this really interesting and informative talk with the former MFC champ. I've changed the topic title so more people will hopefully see this.

At first McKee touches on haters, hurting his own career with talking too much, how he's against PED use and how he guesses 80-85% of MMA fighters are using, how he keeps it natural at 43 years old by fighting safe and even calls his own style "boring", says he probably only has about a year or so left of competition until his style is obsolete against the newer generations. Says he'll be fighting for WSOF in January. Worth catching the whole video but..

THIS IS WHERE THE INTERVIEW GETS IMPORTANT! STARTING AT 4:30.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cW-gY8Qgdo&t=4m30s


McKee mentions being involved with a movement towards a fighter's union, he personally wants to call it "The Bruce Lee Act". He's apparently been going to Sacramento here in California to battle against the UFC.

"Actually it got passed through, unfortunately.. ..A lot of people don't understand what's going on but when the UFC makes a donation of eighty-thousand dollars to the commission on the day of the meeting to kind of construct something positive for fighters, I mean it's apparent that money talks in this sport and, again, I don't consider it a sport yet until you set up a set of rules and a structured organization that can protect fighters, so I gotta be careful because I get death threats and shit man.."

He then goes on to essentially mention he's a threating figure because of the information he has. This includes inside information from fighters currently under UFC contract who aren't able to talk about it, he does not say who because those fighters careers could be threatened.

"..It's for the fighters, it's not for me. I'm almost done!.."

When asked what McKee wants for the fighters..

"..I think that when a fighter signs a contract: a fighter should be respected in that contract, not whored or, 'oh yeah you had a bad fight' and then you're kicked out. I mean there was several instances where I've seen the UFC have some great fighters that fought one or two bad fights and kicked them out. Can you imagine if Kobe Bryant played a bad game and the Laker coach just cut him? Or he had a bad attitude? Or he didn't kiss somebodies ass?.."

McKee goes on to mention the issues of owning the rights to likeness and imaging of a fighter and how ridiculous the contracts are.

"Just fairness for fighters, you know. The Ali Act was a very good move for boxers but I think we should call this one The Bruce Lee Act.."

McKee says that the only way to push this is for a group of fighters who are done with their careers to get together. He mentions how WSOF can hopefully help balance the scale.


I'm really grateful to hear things like this, I hope everyone here on G-MMA can catch this. This is what MMA needs, MMA can become a legitimate sport. What do you guys think about this? It'd be cool if we could get in touch with McKee some how, sounds like he could help expose how deep the corruption really goes.

I dunno this is just important stuff if you ask me but all I really know is I'm definitely going to be rooting for Antonio McKee in his his next fight.

damn good video, needs to be on front page.

He is just mad because he got cut, i see no reason why would keep him at his age and no upside to be a contender plus he is not that marketable either and fight on a oversaturated division for much less bellator cut villa after one loss and i understand the move

^^^did you even watch the video?

Villa got cut after 2 losses
Mckee was cut after 1

^Of course, he was lobbying to get on the ufc not so long ago and was crying because he won't fight there after one loss so why he signed w/ them on the first place if he knows all this information? Villa did much more on Bellator than he did on the UFC, 40 years old Villa losses were to Dantas (Bellator ChamP) and Luis Nogueira plus he ko their 145 champion Joe Warren and mckee had a horrible fight vs the low rank gatekeeper volkmann. McKee is no Kobe Bryant, Tito Ortiz or Randy Couture.

bolsheet wrote:^Of course, he was lobbying to get on the ufc not so long ago and was crying because he won't fight there after one loss so why he signed w/ them on the first place if he knows all this information? Villa did much more on Bellator than he did on the UFC, 40 years old Villa losses were to Dantas (Bellator ChamP) and Luis Nogueira plus he ko their 145 champion Joe Warren and mckee had a horrible fight vs the low rank gatekeeper volkmann. McKee is no Kobe Bryant, Tito Ortiz or Randy Couture.

He's not comparing himself to any of those people bolsheet. Are you saying fighters shouldn't have a legit union? Please go back and read my post if you won't watch the video.

AudaxPowder wrote:
"..It's for the fighters, it's not for me. I'm almost done!.."

bolsheet wrote:He is just mad because he got cut, i see no reason why would keep him at his age and no upside to be a contender plus he is not that marketable either and fight on a oversaturated division for much less bellator cut villa after one loss and i understand the move

I dont think so. He seems like he actually wants to help the fighters, Imagine what ufc fighters would say if they werent scared of being shit canned.

Listen bolsheet, I don't care if you like or dislike McKee as a fighter, BUT THIS CONTENT AND DIALOGUE IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF MMA.

Don't be silly with your personal mood or opinion for other subjects entirely please, I don't appreciate the de-rail here.

^^The union is another stuff and won't start w/ him and yes from the guys on the top like Silva, GSP or Jones. Couture opened his mouth when he was under zuffa contract, mckee don't. I'm not disrespecting him.

delete

bolsheet wrote:^^The union is another stuff and won't start w/ him and yes from the guys on the top like Silva, GSP or Jones. Couture opened his mouth when he was under zuffa contract, mckee don't. I'm not disrespecting him.

Well it seems like the top guys currently employed under the UFC aren't going to rise up because they're probably comfortable honestly but for the lower ranked guys their careers would be in jeopardy or they're at least scared of such.
Wouldn't you agree it's a bit unrealistic to think the fighters employed at a given time would rise up given the UFC and Zuffa's history(i.e. Fitch, and Couture like you said)?

It needs to be the people who are either retired or out of the organization one way or another who have inside experience that need to push the movement for the unionization for fighters.

mmainamerica wrote:Forget the Union!

Go after the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali_Boxing_Reform_Act

Zuffa spends millions with lobbyist to prevent this coming to MMA. Union isn't the right battle and waste of time.

Well yes what it sounds like McKee is talking about would be heavily inspired by the Ali Act, not a straight forward union as it were. I have a feeling that trying to implement the exact same standards as the Ali Act for MMA would be difficult-impossible, something unique must be created for MMA. What it comes down to is that something, anything has to be done to the current landscape of MMA politics for true progression and acceptance.

You're completely right about Zuffa pushing their weight in $$$, mmainamerica, I imagine the corruption can only last so long though.. or maybe I'm just being too hopeful.

delete

mmainamerica wrote:

AudaxPowder wrote:

mmainamerica wrote:Forget the Union!

Go after the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali_Boxing_Reform_Act

Zuffa spends millions with lobbyist to prevent this coming to MMA. Union isn't the right battle and waste of time.

Well yes what it sounds like McKee is talking about would be heavily inspired by the Ali Act, not a straight forward union as it were. I have a feeling that trying to implement the exact same standards as the Ali Act for MMA would be difficult-impossible, something unique must be created for MMA. What it comes down to is that something, anything has to be done to the current landscape of MMA politics for true progression and acceptance.

You're completely right about Zuffa pushing their weight in $$$, mmainamerica, I imagine the corruption can only last so long though.. or maybe I'm just being too hopeful.

It wouldn't take much to include mixed martial arts in the Ali Act.

http://www.mmafa.tv/blog/item/23-battle-lines-being-drawn-why-the-muhammad-ali-act-should-apply-to-mma.html

Thank you for this link!

The bought-off Zombie MMA 'media' didn't cover the MMA fighter bill in California, but I did:

Thursday, April 26, 2012
No Holds Barred: California Assembly Member Luis Alejo on Professional Bill of Rights for MMA Fighters

http://nhbnews.blogspot.com/2012/04/no-holds-barred-california-assembly.html

bolsheet wrote:He is just mad because he got cut, i see no reason why would keep him at his age and no upside to be a contender plus he is not that marketable either and fight on a oversaturated division for much less bellator cut villa after one loss and i understand the move

He is done and he knows it, this fight is no longer for him but for the other fighters. He said as much in his interview. Some fighters wants to kiss somebody elses ass and others dont, no need to guess which camp he fits into.

At least he is shedding some light on the shady business practices of Zuffa. Im really not surprised that Zuffa has sent out their mafia dogs and threatening his life. Once a mafia, always a mafia.

bolsheet wrote:^^The union is another stuff and won't start w/ him and yes from the guys on the top like Silva, GSP or Jones. Couture opened his mouth when he was under zuffa contract, mckee don't. I'm not disrespecting him.

Why not?

He at least has gone through the steps and challenges of 95% of MMA fighters, and not one of the 5% of fighters pampered and treated like royalty by Zuffa.

Guys on top like GSP, Silva and Jones wont ever turn on their masters (maybe Silva a little). The only top ATG guy who has the vision of forwarding the sport of MMA has been Fedor, and his work on an MMA union in Russia.