Just tossing this idea out there. I had a sponsor approach me and ask about putting a team together, providing housing in a great area with a reat climate, paying bills, and providing world class trainers. He wants to make it like the fighters have a responsibility as if they were playing for a sports team.
He asks for a three year commitment, the ability to release and replace for poor performance or conduct detrimental, and in return take a portion of the purses. His vison is to build HWs, 205ers and maybe an elite 185ers, but focus on the big guys.
With my connection I could get them great training partners and all the fights they needed.
How appealing would this be? Would guys drop everything to take advantage of the "MMA Grad School" fully paid scholorship if he had tryouts?
The team would be 4-8 fighters in one or two cities.
It would be expensive for the sponsor, but heck so is owning race horses. Instead you buy a piece of a fighter. They would take a chunk of the purse for three years, as long as you did not get released. The way I pencil it out, he loses until you are into like your third or so UFC fight, or catch an unforseen break. It is a big risk for him, but it provides an opportunity for the fighter that he would not have otherwise, and if the fighter performs there could be a big upside for the investor.
I guess you would have to have designated time off for like holidays or maybe like a week after your fights to go home... thinking out loud. But much like playing minor league baseball, there is travel and significant time away.
It takes a world of pressure off of the fighters. All essentials are handled. I think it gives a fighter a HUGE competative advantage. You job is to eat, sleep, train, watch film, getthe best instructors as coaches and guest trainers. Not for everyone because of the sacrifice... just for guys that dream of being World Champions and are willing to pay the price.
Really at the entry levels the money in the sports sucks, but at the elite levels it is pretty good. As the sport grows so will the talent pool. Reality is a HW with a work ethic and a willingness to learn that wins 4 or 5 fights in a row goes to the UFC and is really only four wins away from a title shot (Gonzaga). They dont even have to be overly impressive wins. The UFC HW title is worth millions.
This could be a two year process. I dont know of another sport where this senerio is possibile and it wont be for long as the international talent pool grows and kids pick the sport up earlier.
Carnes - how do minor league baseball players pull it off who are married? With such a huge upside it may work for married guys as well. One day off a week, nights off for families. Will require relocation, but "do you want to be a fuckin fighter?"
Heck working in the mills or at the plant does not give you the possibility of millions even if you do get the union job. Oh and that life is not going away, it will be there when the career is over.
It may work for some people. Personally I just like a little more stability, hence the reason I don't get in there and fight. But I like the idea.
Just so you know I don't think it is a good idea for someone to go get married and then ship off to basic training for the army. Again that works for some, but I wouldn't do it.
But to get back on topic:
Would the backer take care of medical? What about routine stuff like getting the flu?
What about insurance for the wife and kid?
Of course haveing a job where you train 2-4 times a day for 8 hours would be great.
The guys that fight in the IFL love it. I cant honestly remember hearing a complaint. They treat their fighters well.
Benefets over the IFL -
- All your teammates are your size.
- You get to pick you match-ups to build your fighters. The IFL talent pool is deep. 155 and 170 are loaded.
- Financial upside.
- Most IFL teams have training camps but this is a all the time thing.
- You can become UFC champion, and at this time is the pinnacle of the sport.
- Three year deal instead of one year deal.
- Sponsorship money.