Copied and pasted from this video, source cannot be verified:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4md81XXJOH4&feature=related
Why didn't Fedor just sign with the UFC? -
Fedor's interview: "I never met Dana White, never spoke to him on the phone, never exchanged e-mails. However, I did read a lot on the Internet about what he said in regard to me and Vadim. I also read e-mails that he sent to Vadim; all of his correspondence was very upsetting.
The contract that we were presented with by the UFC was simply impossible, couldn't be signed, I couldn't leave. If I won, I had to fight eight times in two years. If I lost one fight, then the UFC had the right to rip up the contract. At the conclusion of the contract, if I am undefeated, then it automatically extends for an as yet unspecified period of time, though for the same compensation.
Basically I can't leave undefeated. I can't give interviews, appear in films or advertising. I don't have the right to do anything without the UFC's agreement. I could do nothing without the OK from the UFC. I didn't have the right to compete in combat sambo competition. It's my national sport. It's the Russian sport, which I no longer have the right compete in.
There were many such clauses; the contract was 18 pages in length. It was written in such a way that I had absolutely no rights while the UFC could at any moment, if something didn't suit them, tear up the agreement. We worked with lawyers who told us that it was patently impossible to sign such a document."
SOME OF THE UFC CONTRACT TERMS:
-The Agreement grants likeness rights to Zuffa on a worldwide, exclusive basis, an exclusive license prohibiting even the sale of autographed photographs.The term of it lasts FOREVER, and the Marketing Rights for fighter are held by Zuffa EVEN AFTER A FIGHTER IS CUT. It operates to strip the fighter himself of the opportunity to profit on his own Identity in the marketplace.
He doesnt want to be owned by a company for a lifetime, plus he's been competing in Sambo for years and never got hurt. Why would Fedya sign his life, freedom and rights away? He's already a recognized and popular fighter worldwide, he's not a newcomer to MMA.
Wise choice, Fedor!
"-The Agreement grants likeness rights to Zuffa on a worldwide, exclusive basis, an exclusive license prohibiting even the sale of autographed photographs.The term of it lasts FOREVER, and the Marketing Rights for fighter are held by Zuffa EVEN AFTER A FIGHTER IS CUT. It operates to strip the fighter himself of the opportunity to profit on his own Identity in the marketplace."
This is one of the most ridiculous things I have heard and MMA fighters are agreeing to this every day. Arlovski, Cro Cop and Sylvia all must have signed it seeing as they're not with the UFC anymore but still in the new UFC game.
I usually dont like unions but MMA fighters need one.
Any one sided contract can't really be held up in court. It comes down to money of course, but if you've got a likeness deal from another company that has the money to go head to head with Zuffa you could probably get out of it once you've been cut. Still, not a good thing to sign.
Probably the best way to escape that particular clause would be to have a pre-existing likeness deal with another company that's indefinite but non-exclusive, so you can't sign that part of the contract as it would violate a previous one.
Of course, what Fedor did, not sign it at all is the best option.
Should always be exceptions to certain things.
this is what happens when theres 1 major company, yea fedor can say no hes already well known, but how many B level or up and comers signed it as there only avenue? Im not a union fan, but this is horrable.
you cant even seel autographed photos, What!?
~1
Deals like this suck for middle of the road guys like Karo because they'll fight their entire career and walk away from the sport earning peanuts from the UFC while having their bodies completely shot from years of abuse.
They make the UFC 100xs what they pay them.
im a bigger fan of fedor because he hasnt signed. He is better like this
Honestly with Fedors standards and Danas stubbornest, Fedor will never fight in the UFC.
If I won, I had to fight eight times in two years. If I lost one fight, then the UFC had the right to rip up the contract. At the conclusion of the contract, if I am undefeated, then it automatically extends for an as yet unspecified period of time, though for the same compensation.
Basically I can't leave undefeated. I can't give interviews, appear in films or advertising. I don't have the right to do anything without the UFC's agreement. I could do nothing without the OK from the UFC. I didn't have the right to compete in combat sambo competition. It's my national sport. It's the Russian sport, which I no longer have the right compete in.
There were many such clauses; the contract was 18 pages in length. It was written in such a way that I had absolutely no rights while the UFC could at any moment, if something didn't suit them, tear up the agreement. We worked with lawyers who told us that it was patently impossible to sign such a document."
Basically they wanted to have Fedor sign his life away. I don't know how people can defend the UFC in their dealings with Fedor.
"If I won, I had to fight eight times in two years"
That one seems unlikely. He would have been the highest paid guy in the company; which of their top guys fight four times a year? None of them.
"The Agreement grants likeness rights to Zuffa on a worldwide, exclusive basis, an exclusive license prohibiting even the sale of autographed photographs.The term of it lasts FOREVER, and the Marketing Rights for fighter are held by Zuffa EVEN AFTER A FIGHTER IS CUT. It operates to strip the fighter himself of the opportunity to profit on his own Identity in the marketplace."
Seems unlikely as well. Don't half the guys who left the UFC have their own shirts from Affliction/etc? Didn't this whole interpretation of the contract get discredited by ATT among others at the time of the Fitch fiasco?
" Arlovski, Cro Cop and Sylvia all must have signed it seeing as they're not with the UFC anymore but still in the new UFC game."
It's been said many times that the videogame likeness rights were a separate issue.
Too bad the UFC has to ruin a lot of top match ups by being so greedy.
Bispings Water Bottle - Fedor hopefully will beat Barnett, by then maybe Couture will be able to leave the UFC and get that fight together...
After showing his age against Lesnar...the Randy vs Fedor fight isn't as big as it could have been.
if true that is ridiculous. more so than i woulda though before
jackangle - After showing his age against Lesnar...the Randy vs Fedor fight isn't as big as it could have been.
Don't think his age really showed at all in that fight.
tumn -The only thing that was showed in that fight was the incredible size difference between Brock and Randy. Randy has always had problems with wrestlers who outweigh him.jackangle - After showing his age against Lesnar...the Randy vs Fedor fight isn't as big as it could have been.Don't think his age really showed at all in that fight.
Good for Fedor.
He doesn't need to come to the UFC and fight Mir or Lesnar to prove anything and LOL at anyone who says otherwise.
AnotherTMAguy -He must have worked with Russian lawyers who don't read English too well...
... We worked with lawyers who told us that it was patently impossible to sign such a document."
SOME OF THE UFC CONTRACT TERMS:
-The Agreement grants likeness rights to Zuffa on a worldwide, exclusive basis, an exclusive license prohibiting even the sale of autographed photographs.The term of it lasts FOREVER, and the Marketing Rights for fighter are held by Zuffa EVEN AFTER A FIGHTER IS CUT. It operates to strip the fighter himself of the opportunity to profit on his own Identity in the marketplace.
Or maybe he sent it to Nike, and asked what they thought
There is absolutely no incentive for Fedor to sign his life away to the UFC.
He's not some up-and-comer who is desperate to make money in the sport.