UFC stars dumped for refusing THQ

By Robert Purchese Published 21 November, 2008

Wouldn't sign away likeness rights.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has dumped some of its most promising stars for refusing to sign lifelong image-replication deals for the THQ series of official videogames.

"We thought that was kind of crazy. Why would you sign anything away for your lifetime?" lead dissenter Jon Fitch, a contender for the Welterweight crown, told Sports Illustrated.

"To have this happen is crazy. This sport is definitely not about fighting any more. It used to be about finding out who the best guy was, what the best style was.

It's not about that any more. It's about the top company making the most money," he added.

Fitch says he was told "either you're in if you sign this, or you're getting cut" by the UFC. But his rebellion comes after a string of fighters were upset by a similar deal in the summer to sign life-long rights for all sorts of merchandise.

UFC big cheese Dana White told Yahoo these fighters were, "[no longer] partners with us. [naughty word] them. All of them, every last [naughty word] one of them."

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About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (38) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Ren_senshi #1 3 years ago

    They shouldnt have tried to FIGHT TEH POWAH!!!

  • dr_faulk #2 3 years ago

    Amaznig. A bunch of upper-class over-weight old men telling the troughest men in the world what to do. Oh how we've evolved...

    It also seems that evolution hasn't filtered out bad spelling.
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/08 @ 12:09

  • rudedudejude #3 3 years ago

    Bit harsh having it signed away for your lifetime.

    Doubt they would receive any royalties or anything...?

  • Byzanite #4 3 years ago

    That White guy sounds like a *expletive* *expletive*!

  • Venkman90 #5 3 years ago

    Your news is old, Fitch is already back in the UFC, he went over Dana's head to the money and said he didn't have an issue with the rights it was Dana's tactics

    http://ww w.sherdog.com/news/news/fitch-b...

  • robg #6 3 years ago

    Amaznig. A bunch of upper-class over-weight old men telling the troughest men in the world what to do. Oh how we've evolved...

    Welcome to the feudal system.

  • HolyJebus #7 3 years ago

    Madness

  • illusiondance #8 3 years ago

    mr White was clearly jealous of the sorts of sore bum antics that vince mcmahon dishes out.
    (that walking log cabin lesner must be getting horrid flashbacks)

    anyway, look out for film rights and ufc drinks and snacks soon!!

  • The-Bodybuilder #9 3 years ago

    LOL. The sports that was apparently prophesied to usurp boxing is already crumbling due to greed.

  • Matt_B #10 3 years ago

    The sport isn't the problem, it's the Organisation.

  • Negotiator #11 3 years ago

    EG update your info please, all these issues have been resolved. All the fighters will now be included in the game, for all up to date information contact me the Negotiator on 08, just kidding.

  • Negotiator #12 3 years ago

    DickD09 WTF are you talking about, White looks after his fighters, also the reason he has made all these deals is to keep the UFC making a profit and keep these fighters employed. Drugs are a part of every sport, and the UFC drug testing is as strict as any sport out there. Check the facts, before you start typing, good day sir.

  • Collymilad #13 3 years ago

    WOW, just wow.

  • chicknstu #14 3 years ago

    It's pretty unreasonable to ask them to sign away likeness rights for the rest of their lives.

  • FreakyZoid #15 3 years ago

    They should start their own rival organisation "Double-Ultimate Fighting Champion, No Back Chats" Who would watch boring old normal ultimate fighting then?

  • itsfuzzy #16 3 years ago

    @NickD09

    Boxing will always have more credibility WTF!!

    Thats why a gangster like Don King was able to promote all the biggest fights when boxing was in its prime!!
    And why boxing was tarnished. And will never reach the heights it hit again

  • sifujames #17 3 years ago

    @ Negotiator: "White looks after his fighters"? LMAO, that couldn't be farther from the truth. There's no denying the great job he's done in building up the UFC, and the top level fighters do get paid pretty well, along with some bonuses and undeclared PPV percentages, but when you look at the payouts some of the undercard guys get, it barely equals a month's wages. White needs to remove his ego from the equation (this whole debacle was due to White acting like a pr1ck as per usual) and pay ALL of the fighters better, not just the ones that make him money.

  • LukeFX #18 3 years ago

    I wouldn't sign ANYTHING away for lifetime, thats just fucking stupid. I thought UFC was good, I hope it don't become all about the money!

  • knightmt #19 3 years ago

    I hope they do not do this on other games like SKATE, Tony Hawks, and Tiger Woods.
    How am I supposed to renegotiate.

  • knightmt #20 3 years ago

    UFC does not look as good as SF IV they get so little air.

  • Xerx3s #21 3 years ago

    "To have this happen is crazy. This sport is definitely not about fighting any more. It used to be about finding out who the best guy was, what the best style was.

    It's not about that any more. It's about the top company making the most money,"

    Dunno what illusion he has been clinging to but it has always been about the money.

  • layleeloo #22 3 years ago

    ITS THE SAME IN ANY SPORT IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. UFC IN ITS INFANCY WASN ENTERTAINING. THE FIRST 10 VOLUMES OR SO, NOW LIKE FOOTBALL, WRESTLING AND EVERY OTHER SPORT WHICH GAINS MASS POPULARITY IS IS ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY. THATS NEVER GOIGN TO CHANGE. YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT. ITS A BAD THING FOR SURE, BUT THERES NO GETTING AROUND IT IN THE MODERN WORLD. ALL THINGS BECOME VALUABLE COMMODITITES WITH POPULARITY BE IT SPORT, MUSIC, FILMS, GAMES COMPANIES. EVERYTHING

  • layleeloo #23 3 years ago

    @ Xerx3s

    "Dunno what illusion he has been clinging to but it has always been about the money. " Thats totally innaccurate!!

    The whole point about UFC in its infancy was the publics complete astonishment asbout how much these guys are willing to put themselves through - as the prize money was practically nothing. You were talking maybe $5K prize money for a whole competition of several fights. So the prize money had nothign to do with it as it cost people more to get there than they actually won - Thats what made it so entertaining - these people were gettign pulled becasue they liked it. NOT becasue they got well paid for it, cos they didnt. Nowardays its like boxing and everything else. Silly money for each fight and match up etc.

  • gruntboy #24 3 years ago

    Bah. I came in here hoping to find a "guess the [naughty word] omission" game going on. Well, I'll start then...

    1st. Fool
    2nd. Mother-loving

  • sifujames #25 3 years ago

    @ layleeloo

    It's hardly silly money. When you consider management and training fees, only the top tier guys actually make any kind of significant earnings. And considering the hard work they put in, I see now problem with them being rewarded for their efforts. Listed below are the official payouts for UFC 91 last weekend. Now getting paid over £100k per week to kick a football is silly money. The best money comparison is boxing, and even compared to that MMA fighters are in the poor house. Compare Lesnar and Couture's pay to that of Calzage and Jones Jr multi-million purse a couple of weeks ago

    Brock Lesnar — $450,000 ($250,000 to show, $200,000 to win)
    Randy Couture — $250,000

    Kenny Florian — $80,000 ($ 40,000 to show, $40,000 to win)
    Joe Stevenson — $35,000

    Dustin Hazelett — $28,000 ($14,000 to show, $14,000 to win)
    Tamdan McCrory — $10,000

    Gabriel Gonzaga — $110,000 ($55,000 to show, $55,000 to win)
    Josh Hendricks — $8,000

    Demian Maia — $40,000 ($20,000 to show, $20,000 to win)
    Nate Quarry — $25,000

    Aaron Riley — $8,000 ($4,000 to show, $4,000 to win)
    Jorge Gurgel — $10,000

    Jeremy Stephens — $16,000 ($8.000 to show, $8,000 to win)
    Rafael dos Anjos — $4,000

    Mark Bocek — $18,000 ($9,000 to show, $9,000 to win)
    Alvin Robinson — $7,000

    Matt Brown — $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)
    Ryan Thomas — $3,000

    Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc.
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/08 @ 13:36

  • knightmt #26 3 years ago

    I think they should play football, imagine the viewing figures.
    Cats whiskers
    doodlarooney.

  • optimusprym8 #27 3 years ago

    reminds me of the last company I worked for who wanted me to sign a contract that covered "the universe"
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/08 @ 13:46

  • Redeye #28 3 years ago

    prym8: Yeah, had one of those too...funny that when I said I just wanted to run it past my solicitor first to make sure it was all hunky-dory that said contract was hurriedly removed for 'review'.

    And whether this news is new, old or as ancient as Methusalah is irrelevant - any company that wants any of its personnel to sign up to a life-time anything deserves to be shot down in flames.

    EDIT: Unless they promise free (insert whatever takes your fancy here) until the day the universe implodes, then I'm their monkey. ;)
    Edited by 1 at 21/11/08 @ 14:00

  • sifujames #29 3 years ago

    @ gruntboy

    The missing expletive is "Panda Stroking"

  • anomagnus #30 3 years ago

    credit crunch bites again

  • Ryze #31 3 years ago

    UFC??? That's a serious problem. When I glanced and clicked I assumed it was WWE or some other nonsense.

    I wouldn't sign away any lifetime likeness rights either.

  • datter #32 3 years ago

    Fitch is kind of, back already.
    http://ww w.cagepotato.com/2008/11/20/shi...

  • Darkhadou #33 3 years ago

    Yeah the dispute only lasted less than 24 hours, Fitch is back.

  • Velios #34 3 years ago

    Dana White = Cunt

  • SharksInYourMouth #35 3 years ago

    UFC is such a joke

  • rprince #36 3 years ago

    I thought Dana was a woman's name. Like in X-Files...

  • curtlikesmeat #37 3 years ago

    A very large dose of careface for the article, however, on reading the comments.... Brock Lesnar is in UFC?!?! How's he doing?

  • ROCEREDSKULL #38 3 years ago

    Any sport that has an owner like UFC is going to be fixed in some way. Its not far from the WWE at this stage. I mean look at Brock Lesnar. 4 fights UFC champion show me another sport that would allow that to happen. On top of that he's now the highest paid fighter in UFC. For what? Losing 2 of his 4 fights. Beating a light heavyweight (Randy), when Brock isn't even a heavyweight himself. He's a super heavyweight, and should have never been allowed to fight in that fight. Nearly 4 stone heavier.

    UFC has no ranking system, the sport is suited for Americans to dominate. Not because they are better fighters, but because they know how to hold a fighter on the ground. Take downs should not score in MMA, in a real world situation most of these wrestling/shootfighting/ji jistsu fighters would get killed. All the rules were changed in the UFC in the early 90's to help the American wrestlers out. Look at the early UFC fights, groin shots, strikes to the back of the head and the back were allowed. Hair pulling was allowed, and head buts.
    UFC/MMA = professional college wrestling with one or two strikes for good measure.
    Don't get me wrong I'm a fan of the UFC and have followed it from the beginning, but its becoming more and more watered down. It needs to go down the same route as boxing, what I mean by that is. The fighters should have promoters and there should be a ranking system. A world ranking system.

    Anyone who says Dana white looks after his fighters is an idiot. He looks after somefighters, the ones the fans like, and fucks the rest. Even the ref's are walking out of the UFC. And the ones left stop fights way to early.
    Even the fans boo nearly every fight, coz it geared to much for grappling.
    Pride kicked UFC's ass, as does K1, WEC, Affliction. Even shity cage rage the fighter like to bang.