UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is the latest fighter to express criticism concerning the UFC’s Outfitting Policy. In an interview with Brazilian outlet Combate, it appears that Aldo is in favor of fighters coming together to address these issues.
Aldo indicated that if fighters were organized like the players are in the NBA, the policy would have been different. Aldo states that his arguments are not his but for his teammates that have looked to him for guidance with the new rules.
Payout Perspective:
With all the discontent with the UFC’s new policy, if the fighters had a leader to guide them it would be helpful. Of course, Aldo as leader has its pros and cons. While he is a champion in the UFC and should have some leverage, he is not a native English speaker which would make it an obstacle to communicate ideas with most fighters, namely Americans. Moreover, the idea of an association and/or union are good in theory but what would something like this look if fighters had the opportunity to organize. Would there be solidarity between fighters or splits between fight camps, fighters, etc.?
A champion in, and out of the ring
The problem in combat sports and the reason we have never seen a union in boxing’s long history is that fighters are taught to be selfish–whether it’s MMA or Boxing, it’s an individual sport and you look out for your own interests, even amongst teammates in the same camp, loyalty is doubtful. The UFC knows this and they play the fighters against each other–for every fighter who is willing to stand his ground there is another fighter willing to fight for crumbs and sign any type of contract.
The UFC has a policy of not sharing any financial information with anyone, even the most popular fighters have no clue how much the UFC really shares with them, I am guessing just enough to keep them from voicing their displeasure. It’s good to see Aldo speaking the truth in this matter, but as long as the fighters who drive PPV keep quiet then nothing is going to change. I think it is definitely easier for there to be an association in MMA rather than in boxing due to the way the promotional organizations are structured, but the UFC will fight tooth and nails against it.
A union is stupid. The UFC is the only promotion who is looking out for the sport and the fighters. There is no one who has an invested interest in doing that. A union would kill off the only people keeping the sport alive. Also the top fighters are not going to split their pay among 500 bums who suck. Which is what would happen.