Fighters Only

Issue 125

February 2015

All the head-turning information every MMA fan needs to know.

Fitch, Quarry and Le driving UFC lawsuit

After months of rumors the athletes behind the class-action lawsuit filed against the UFC came to the fore last month. One-time UFC title contenders Jon Fitch and Nate Quarry, along with active UFC contractee Cung Le, are the plaintiffs named in the case.

The complaint alleges the UFC conspired to create a monopoly and engaged in anti-competitive practices that crippled competition and created a marketplace where fighters could not receive fair compensation.

A chief target in the suit is a well-known UFC contract clause that awards the promotion name and likeness rights in perpetuity. Co-plaintiff Fitch’s fight with the UFC over the clause is detailed in the suit.

Just hours after the San Jose press conference in which the suit was announced, the UFC released a prepared statement on it’s website stating their stand regarding the legal action.

“The UFC is aware of the action filed today but has not been served, nor has it had the opportunity to review the document,” it read. “The UFC will vigorously defend itself and its business practices.”

The three law firms involved in the case, all heavy hitters, believe more fighters will come out and join the campaign over the coming months. Watch this space.

FO SCORE: Whether you believe the three plaintiffs are soldiers for justice or are simply disgruntled fighters sliding down the MMA poll, what’s for sure is this is just the tip of the iceberg in a mud-slinging case that’s destined to get pretty ugly!

4

Including Kickboxer, Gina Carano has four movie roles already planned for 2015. She’s set to appear in Bus 657, The Opium War and an as yet untitled Adi Shankar production, according to leading movie recorder IMDb.com.

$70 million

The UFC’s new Reebok deal is worth a reported $70 million over six years and will see fighters rewarded per fight depending on their official ranking. The first event to use the new Reebok kit will be UFC 189 in July.

ROUSEY EYES BEST-SELLER LIST

Ronda Rousey won’t be found in a dark corner licking her wounds after learning of Gina Carano’s Kickboxer movie role. Gina’s decision to stay away from MMA has scuppered any immediate hopes of a money-spinning showdown in 2015, but Rousey’s got her schedule filled regardless.

The women’s UFC 135lb champion has reportedly signed a deal with publisher Regan Arts to pen her autobiography and she’s got the ideal partner to help get her memoirs down on paper. Her sister Maria Burns Ortiz is a writer for ESPN.com and Fox Sports Latino.

Despite being just 27 years old, Rousey has crammed a ton into her life already having won Olympic gold on the judo mat against the family tragedy of losing her father and a personal battle with a teenage speech impediment. Look out JK Rowling.