Last week, ESPN ran an article on the proposed amendment to the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act which would cover mixed martial artists. Oklahoma congressman Markwayne Mullin has indicated that he would spearhead the effort to amend the law to extend to all combat sports including MMA.
While Bellator has indicated it would support such an amendment, the UFC is not in favor of one (although no specifics have yet to be discussed). The ESPN story reports that the UFC has met with Congressman Mullin on at least on two occasions. One would surmise the meetings would be to lobby the congressman not to amend the current Ali Act. It should be noted that the UFC has not seen the proposal that the congressman seeks to amend.
For his part, the congressman has been vague with what he would do to the Ali Act aside from making it applicable to combat sports. He’s stated that promoter disclosure of revenues to fighters would be one of the reasons why the bill should be amended. Of course, the Ali Act, as it stands, has posed its own problems with this disclosure as the current law is not specific as to when the promoter must disclose financial information which makes it difficult for a fighter to negotiate. A recent example of this problem is boxer Chris Algieri.
One of the concerns from the UFC is the rankings component of the Ali Act which would assess ranking fighters. Section 11 of the Ali Act gives the Association of Boxing Commissions the right to develop guidelines for rating pro boxers. Of course, the UFC has its own rankings. It is not clear on how, or what governing body would have the right to develop guidelines for mixed martial arts. This part of the law would take control from the UFC.
Payout Perspective:
If you wondered how fighters have fared when suing under the Ali Act, you can check this out. For the UFC, amending the Ali Act would mean having to abide by outside regulators and subject them to the possibility of litigation under the Act. But, as we’ve seen, litigating under the Ali Act is not as easy as it might seem. Mullin has yet to reveal his proposed amendments to the Ali Act. This is likely done on purpose so as not to tip off opposition. One would hope the amendments would be advantageous to fighters so that if they are an aggrieved party, they can seek assistance under the law.
of course the UFC doesnt want to be included in the Ali Act….there is more oversight and protection for fighters.
That’s because it would ruin the foundation of the sport. Fighters see big revenue and are clueless at the expense involved to create it. Everyone will demand more and some will get it and some will lose everything trying. In the end the ability for the sport to expand will deminish and expense to fans will rise and the product will suffer. When the promoter is match maker they can end your inflated pay days very easily.
There isn’t a need for regulation here when you have competition that regulates income and treatment way more efficiently and effective than politicians.
Ufc is running scared, they know their monopoly is coming to an end.
Too add, I’m happy for the fighters if this passes. No reason they shouldn’t have the same benefits.
Good point, BrainSmasher.
Ali act for mma…end the dictatorshipw
All i know is EVERY TIME the government gets involved with sport or anything else, nobody wins. The thing I find funny AGAIN (just like trying to get MMA passed in and state or county) or anything else that comes along in the legal sense, Bellator agrees, sits on the sidelines looking like the good guys. Reason being they know the UFC will fight this, spend the money and no matter what the outcome Bellator doesn’t have to spend a dime. I’m tired of Bellator look ultrulisitc when their last posted pay of fighters prelims guys were making 1000 to show and 1000 for a win. People complain about the UFC which pays 12000 and 12000. The hated Reebok deal pays first time fighters in the UFC more than Bellator pays a first time fighter to show up. That IMO is disgusting.
The ALI act isn’t going to be answer as it still involves littigation if a fighter thinks he/she has been cheated, as we know the little guy with the shallow pockets usually loses that battle. This may be alright for the upper tier fighter who has deeper pockets but any lower or mid tier fighter (which are the ones who really suffer) it won’t make a difference.
I prefer a union or collective bargaining for fighters over the ali act. Fighters need to form a union of sorts if they want to have better contracts.