Chris Leben Tweet

dave1982

Sad tweet from Leben



Very unsure bout this tweet Chris imo was well looked after compared to other fighters, he was one of Dana's 1st born so I think he was looked after.

I think maybe Chris blew the lot.

I'm a huge Leben fan sad to see it eitherway

scudzilla

He's spent it on god knows what, he had 6 FoTN bonuses, that's 300k

His last 12 fights pay have been (starting from UFC 82), 50k, unknown and failed piss test, 30k, 50k, 70k, 86k, 46k, 92k, 46k (again failed piss test), 51k, 51k & 51k

So just for his last 12 fights, since 1st March 2008 he's earned 623k plus approx 150k on top in 3 FoTN bonuses, that's 773k before ya add any of the famous 'other payments' and sponsorship.

So do i feel sorry for him, nah

calex71

scudzilla wrote: »

He's spent it on god knows what, he had 6 FoTN bonuses, that's 300k

His last 12 fights pay have been (starting from UFC 82), 50k, unknown and failed piss test, 30k, 50k, 70k, 86k, 46k, 92k, 46k (again failed piss test), 51k, 51k & 51k

So just for his last 12 fights, since 1st March 2008 he's earned 623k plus approx 150k on top in 3 FoTN bonuses, that's 773k before ya add any of the famous 'other payments' and sponsorship.

So do i feel sorry for him, nah

Well wage of an average Joe is what 30k per year to live normally , training camps ain't free but thats still a big chunk of change on those numbers.

No idea what difference sponsorship would have made to the numbers either.

riffmongous

iWhat is the UFC stance on medical bills? I'd imagine a guy like Leben spent and will spend a lot of time in hospital (although he probably had enough money to buy insurance, you never know with some of these guys)

TherapyBoy

He has said to disregard his comment. His next few tweets give context.

riffmongous

Still, it's not really the kind of comment you make if you are rolling in cash

Mellor

calex71 wrote: »

No idea what difference sponsorship would have made to the numbers either.

A big difference.
Especially for a fighter consistently on the main card. Plus being a recognised name for so long, he would if had product sponsorships outside of events.

riffmongous wrote: »

iWhat is the UFC stance on medical bills? I'd imagine a guy like Leben spent and will spend a lot of time in hospital (although he probably had enough money to buy insurance, you never know with some of these guys)

The ufc has an insurance policy that covers every fighter on the roster.

riffmongous

Mellor wrote: »

The ufc has an insurance policy that covers every fighter on the roster.

Do you have any idea how that would affect longer term injuries once you are no longer on the roster? Obviously just for injuries sustained while fighting for the UFC. Or if you get cut after a fight and then find out you need treatment for an injury sustained in that fight?

kearneybobs

If you've listened to some of the recent MMARoasted podcasts you'll have heard a few storied about Leben and how he used to live the high life, blow all his money and be pretty wild, even during a camp.
It's hardly surprising that he's got nothing. Blaming the UFC on the state of his life once he leaves the UFC is hardly fair.

Mellor

riffmongous wrote: »

Do you have any idea how that would affect longer term injuries once you are no longer on the roster? Obviously just for injuries sustained while fighting for the UFC. Or if you get cut after a fight and then find out you need treatment for an injury sustained in that fight?

I would imagine there is some sort of terms and conditions defining the cover period, but I wouldn't have a clue what it was.
At a total guess, I'd say that the policy covers the ongoing treatment needed for any injury sustained while employed by the UFC, including after they are cut/retire.

In the same way that if I hit your car and you need treatment over the nest few years. My insurances covers it, even if I don't renew it.

Xlami

this is interesting but what Nate Quarry posted on his facebook this week was mind blowing!

darced

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Wrongway1985

darced wrote: »

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http://www.bjpenn.com/ufc-vet-nate-quarry-speaks-out-against-the-ufc-fighters-just-a-product-to-them-they-dont-care/

No coincidence another Original Ultimate Fighter and a friend of Leben chooses this week to mention this very eye opening alright my fave part...

"I fought for the title for $10,000 not a penny more. No Bonus. No cut of the PPV. The gate alone was 3.5 million dollars. The third highest in UFC history at the time. And they must have loved that fight cuz they show the final punch at the start of EVERY UFC PPV. "

darced

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lertsnim

darced wrote: »

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They will go too far some day

Mellor

darced wrote: »

Taxing fighters sponsor's 100 grand for the pleasure is low beyond belief im shocked by that to be honest.

I wouldn't part with 70 dollars to line their pockets of I was in the states.

I dunno, it's a pretty normal business move.
The UFC create and own the PPV for all these advertisements. It's their broadcast. if companies want to have their logos on this broadcast, the UFC deserve "some" compensation.

How much is a different question. I don't know if 100k per year is reasonable or not. It would depend on how much the company is spending overall on UFC fighters. It gives them access to lots of fighters

JohnMc1

Mellor wrote: »

I dunno, it's a pretty normal business move.
The UFC create and own the PPV for all these advertisements. It's their broadcast. if companies want to have their logos on this broadcast, the UFC deserve "some" compensation.

How much is a different question. I don't know if 100k per year is reasonable or not. It would depend on how much the company is spending overall on UFC fighters. It gives them access to lots of fighters

The problem with the $100K fee is that is kills the lower tiers guys chances of earning enough that they can train full time instead of working a 9-5 job and then trying to squeeze in a couple hours of training and hoping your boss will give you 8-12 weeks off to have a fight camp.

Now the UFC is looking into implementing a UFC uniform. Every event now will look like TUF and will kill anybody's chances of getting sponsorships because everybody will be so generic looking there will be no way to stand out.

Alot of fighters need to start smartening up and stop being marks for the business and UFC.

weemcd

Uniforms are a terrible, terrible idea. This will take more money away from the fighters, how is a company who specialise in MMA shorts going to sponsor a guy/girl in the octagon if they all wear generic UFC branded shorts?

The gear fighters wear can become iconic and I'm sure popular fighters really boost sales wearing certain gear, bring the company and themselves a bigger income.

It will get very boring looking at everyone wearing the same thing.

JohnMc1

weemcd wrote: »

Uniforms are a terrible, terrible idea. This will take more money away from the fighters, how is a company who specialise in MMA shorts going to sponsor a guy/girl in the octagon if they all wear generic UFC branded shorts?

The gear fighters wear can become iconic and I'm sure popular fighters really boost sales wearing certain gear, bring the company and themselves a bigger income.

It will get very boring looking at everyone wearing the same thing.

It seems like the plan is to make the fighters as Generic looking as possible so that they're easily replaceable so the have very little negotiating power. Next step will be generic entrance music and regulations regarding hair length and style [probably even towards facial hair]

Easy Rod

JohnMc1 wrote: »

It seems like the plan is to make the fighters as Generic looking as possible so that they're easily replaceable so the have very little negotiating power. Next step will be generic entrance music and regulations regarding hair length and style [probably even towards facial hair]

I know your exaggerating for effect but I think that is far from their intentions.

They want to promote individuals, create unique stars who can drive pay per view buys not restrict it. They are delighted when someone like McGregor comes along - outspoken, unique and entertaining.

Blandness does not sell.

JohnMc1

Easy Rod wrote: »

I know your exaggerating for effect but I think that is far from their intentions.

They want to promote individuals, create unique stars who can drive pay per view buys not restrict it. They are delighted when someone like McGregor comes along - outspoken, unique and entertaining.

Blandness does not sell.

While I was being tongue in cheek its probably not out of the realm of possibility. Don't forget that this is a promotion that promotes their President as their biggest star.

darced

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Mellor

JohnMc1 wrote: »

The problem with the $100K fee is that is kills the lower tiers guys chances of earning enough that they can train full time instead of working a 9-5 job and then trying to squeeze in a couple hours of training and hoping your boss will give you 8-12 weeks off to have a fight camp.

I think I'm missing something, why/how is a lower tier guy affected?
A typical sponsor like Xyience or Muscle Pharm, pays the 100k sponsor fee, and from there they are free to sponsor any fighter from undercard to main event. Obviously, the fee they give individual fighters will vary. But I donlt see how a lower teir guy is going to be passed up.

Nobody in the UFC has a 9-5 job.

Now the UFC is looking into implementing a UFC uniform. Every event now will look like TUF and will kill anybody's chances of getting sponsorships because everybody will be so generic looking there will be no way to stand out.

The uniform proposal was probably a knee jerk reaction to some fighter wearing ridiculous clothing in the cage. (Dennis Hallman, Cody McKenzie).
I don't think it changes a whole lot as they specifically started that the uniform will include a certain allocation for individual sponsors.

So the only change is basically standardised shorts.

darced wrote: »

The problem is low tier fighters will not and can not get a sponsor who will pay them and 100 grand to the UFC in sponsorship.

I'd say they would be looking at sponsorship from a smaller company for maybe 10-20 grand to help them train full time no one will pay 120 thousand for a prelim fighter so they are bucked.

I think you misunderstand, its not 100k to the UFC per fighter and event.
It's 100k per year for the company. From there they can sponsor as many fighters as they wish, for as many events as they wish.

So say a company sponsors 5 fighters, who have 3 fights per year each. The company pays them 20k per fight, and a once odd 100k to the UFC. 400k total.
In reality, the big sponsors will have their logo in there more than 15 times a year, so a yearly sponsorship is more economical. A small company with a small marketing budget is excluded, but we don;t even know if the 100k is a flat rule for all or if its a sliding scale - probably the latter.

riffmongous

But with more and more events and consequently more fighters, a smaller amount of potential sponsors will lead to less money per fighter I'd guess

Mellor

riffmongous wrote: »

But with more and more events and consequently more fighters, a smaller amount of potential sponsors will lead to less money per fighter I'd guess

How you work that out?
More events, more fighters means more appearance opportunities for the brand. As a brand increases its exposure, so does its marketing budget. They don't spread the same budget thinner.

I don't think it means less potential sponsors either. I'd say there's never been a greater range of sponsors in the UFC than today.

riffmongous

Mellor wrote: »

How you work that out?
More events, more fighters means more appearance opportunities for the brand. As a brand increases its exposure, so does its marketing budget. They don't spread the same budget thinner.

I don't think it means less potential sponsors either. I'd say there's never been a greater range of sponsors in the UFC than today.

If there's a greater supply of a good the price per unit will (probably) go down.

Even without more events just using your example above, that company could have sponsored almost 2 more fighters for the year before this charge, or paid the current 5 fighters roughly 6 grand more with the same budget, the only way this won't hit the fighters is if the companies decide to carry the cost entirely, which as we know with taxes rarely happens

Mellor

riffmongous wrote: »

If there's a greater supply of a good the price per unit will (probably) go down.

Are you suggesting that fighters are undercutting each other, driving fees down.

Even without more events just using your example above, that company could have sponsored almost 2 more fighters for the year before this charge, or paid the current 5 fighters roughly 6 grand more with the same budget, the only way this won't hit the fighters is if the companies decide to carry the cost entirely, which as we know with taxes rarely happens

This isn't some new charge they brought in, it's been around for a long time. The companies are aware of and agree to it. It's not unfair for the UFC to receive done of their marketing budget - as above how much is debatable.

I'm don't mean to be defending the UFC entirely, and they aren't always entirely in the right. But I just think its crazy to suggest that they aren't entitled to "any" of the advertising money from companies featured on their broadcast.

riffmongous

Mellor wrote: »

Are you suggesting that fighters are undercutting each other, driving fees down.

That's not how I looked at it, my thoughts were that if there are more events and fighters the impact of each fighter in advertising goes down unless the number of new viewers increases proportionally, so the fighters are worth less.

This isn't some new charge they brought in, it's been around for a long time. The companies are aware of and agree to it. It's not unfair for the UFC to receive done of their marketing budget - as above how much is debatable.

I'm don't mean to be defending the UFC entirely, and they aren't always entirely in the right. But I just think its crazy to suggest that they aren't entitled to "any" of the advertising money from companies featured on their broadcast.

Of course the companies agree to it, the ones who can afford it, who are also the ones who agree to it can pass on the burden of the cost.

The UFC can of course do whatever it wants and feel it is entitled to whatever it wants, as a private company.. but my concern lies with the fighters and I dont see how anything that restricts their supplementary income can be good for them, unless the are reinbursed elsewhere of course.

darced

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Mellor

riffmongous wrote: »

The UFC can of course do whatever it wants and feel it is entitled to whatever it wants, as a private company..

Yeah of course, but you you honestly think its wrong for them to receive any revenue from creating the advertising platform? Forget about whether or not 100k is too much.

riffmongous

Mellor wrote: »

Yeah of course, but you you honestly think its wrong for them to receive any revenue from creating the advertising platform? Forget about whether or not 100k is too much.

Hm, fundamentally no, but I always thought of sponsorship as a supplementary income for fighters because their flat pay is quite low and it seems to me that the UFC is now restricting their access. When you add in the other points Quarry made, especially regarding contract lengths and likeness rights and it all adds up.

Mellor

riffmongous wrote: »

Hm, fundamentally no, but I always thought of sponsorship as a supplementary income for fighters because their flat pay is quite low and it seems to me that the UFC is now restricting their access. When you add in the other points Quarry made, especially regarding contract lengths and likeness rights and it all adds up.

I'm not talking about contract length, likeness or any of that,. In that regard I agree with Quarry*. And their pay being low is unfortunately low, that's a separate, and important, issue. But, from a purely business POV, I think its mad to say that the UFC deserve zero return for providing the platform.

There's absolutely is could have remained as in the early days where they could have what ever they wanted.

darced

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