Quote: Ali Act Will Turn MMA Business Model On Its Head

Fighter pay along with fighter treatment has long been a hot topic in mixed martial arts (MMA) specifically regarding the world’s largest MMA promotion, the UFC, which is why it was so interesting when a report surfaced indicating that the UFC was attempting to stop the expansion of the Muhammad Ali Act from entering MMA.

Oklahoma congressman Markwayne Mullin, who hopes to introduce a bill that would bring the act to MMA, recently detailed a somewhat odd conversation he had with a UFC official that made it clear to him that change is needed:

“He actually said that to me,” Mullin told MMAjunkie. “He said, ‘We don’t have them fight for a championship belt. We bestow an award on an individual for the best fighter that night.’ I said, ‘See, this is exactly why we need this.’”

While noting that today’s fighters are indeed ‘phenomenal athletes’, Mullin claimed that they simply aren’t treated fairly:

“The fighters today are phenomenal athletes, while we were more brawlers,” Mullin said. “It’s become a professional sport. But would I encourage my kids to try and make it? Would I encourage my kids to go into it? Is it a sustainable career? I mean, for the top one percent, is it even sustainable for them? And the answer is no. No it is not.”

Erik Magraken, an attorney in favor of the expansion of the act, also commented on the situation, saying that the act would completely change the current business model in MMA:

“The Muhammad Ali Expansion Act will turn the current business model on its head for many promoters,” Magraken wrote in an email to MMAjunkie. “This will not be limited to the UFC, but also other professional MMA promoters such as Bellator MMA and WSOF, not to mention smaller regional promoters. Additionally this will impact other combat sports promoters such as GLORY and Lion Fight Promotions, Bellator Kickboxing and even professional grappling promoters.”

Do you expect to see the Muhammad Ali Act make its entry into MMA in the near future?