General MMA Chat/News mk3 - **No Spoilers Use Event Threads**

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Contractually there is a huge difference between UFC cancelling the card, and UFC being instructed by Disney/ESPN to cancel. This was a standoff and the UFC won. They had no desire to hold the card. They need to put on 42 events to get paid £605m and if Disney pulled the plug it will have some bearing on this clause. UFC can say they were willing and able to do the card, ready to go.

Same thing happened in the opening Formula 1 race - none of the parties involved wanted to be the one to pull the trigger on cancellation for fear of being responsible for cancellation fees, non-performance penalties etc.

Was wondering that.... it felt like gigantic game of chicken, first to duck loses.

eagle eye

Deleted User wrote:

Contractually there is a huge difference between UFC cancelling the card, and UFC being instructed by Disney/ESPN to cancel. This was a standoff and the UFC won. They had no desire to hold the card. They need to put on 42 events to get paid £605m and if Disney pulled the plug it will have some bearing on this clause. UFC can say they were willing and able to do the card, ready to go.

Have you a link to where this is proven or are you just surmising?

Mellor

eagle eye wrote: »

Have you a link to where this is proven or are you just surmising?

Which part needs proof?

eagle eye

Mellor wrote:

The UFC and ESPN have a contract, and agreed commitments. They can’t meet them.

But you don't not know what's in the that contract. There could be a public sentiment section, there could be a section on times of emergency.

Mellor

eagle eye wrote: »

But you don't not know what's in the that contract. There could be a public sentiment section, there could be a section on times of emergency.

There might be, but they’d both only benefit the UFC if they cancelled. And there’s a certain amount of subjectivity around each. So they’d need to make a case, to ESPN. I think they have been successful. But with ESPN making the call, it removes all that.

FWIW, I think the UFC were fully intending on proceeding.

eagle eye

Mellor wrote:

There might be, but they’d both only benefit the UFC if they cancelled. And there’s a certain amount of subjectivity around each. So they’d need to make a case, to ESPN. I think they have been successful. But with ESPN making the call, it removes all that.
FWIW, I think the UFC were fully intending on proceeding.

This is all guesswork, you and me don't have a clue.
I'd imagine that almost all companies have come to an agreement to share the losses over this pandemic. I might be wrong but I'd imagne all their legal departments will have recommended this approach because it's the likely outcome of any future court cases.

US2

Not only do boardsies know the fine detail in fighter contracts but also contracts between Disney/ESPN and UFC.

Zero-Cool

Brett absolutely done Mike on this one

https://twitter.com/bokamotoESPN/status/1248773659725975552?s=19

Mellor

eagle eye wrote: »

This is all guesswork, you and me don't have a clue.
I'd imagine that almost all companies have come to an agreement to share the losses over this pandemic. I might be wrong but I'd imagne all their legal departments will have recommended this approach because it's the likely outcome of any future court cases.

I still think your misunderstanding.

They have a contract for 42 cards this year. ESPN have stopped UFC from fulfilling the contract. So UFC have a strong position when it comes to negotiating. I don't need to see the contract to have that opinion.
Obviously they won't get the full payout unless they fulfil it.

eagle eye

Mellor wrote:

They have a contract for 42 cards this year. ESPN have stopped UFC from fulfilling the contract. So UFC have a strong position when it comes to negotiating. I don't need to see the contract to have that opinion. Obviously they won't get the full payout unless they fulfil it.

The wording Dana White used was that the powers that be asked him to stand down and not do this event.

Mellor

eagle eye wrote: »

The wording Dana White used was that the powers that be asked him to stand down and not do this event.

In not sure how that’s relevant to what I said?

The “powers” are ESPN/Disney.

EagererBeaver

Some strong words from Sean Sheehan on today's Severe MMA pod for anyone who was advocating that the card went ahead.

SDTimeout

EagererBeaver wrote: »

Some strong words from Sean Sheehan on today's Severe MMA pod for anyone who was advocating that the card went ahead.

he went in on it alright, the gloves have finally come off sheehan

Mellor

EagererBeaver wrote: »

Some strong words from Sean Sheehan on today's Severe MMA pod for anyone who was advocating that the card went ahead.

Link for the lazy (me)

EagererBeaver

SDTimeout wrote: »

he went in on it alright, the gloves have finally come off sheehan

He's been pretty strong on it the last few weeks. He's not wrong either.

Mellor wrote: »

Link for the lazy (me)

https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zb3VuZGNsb3VkLmNvbS91c2Vycy9zb3VuZGNsb3VkOnVzZXJzOjE1MDgwNDMxMi9zb3VuZHMucnNz&episode=dGFnOnNvdW5kY2xvdWQsMjAxMDp0cmFja3MvNzk2MTQ2NTk1

Most of the pod is taken up with chat about the state of things, Mellor.

Tazzimus

I see Florida has deemed pro sports an essential service, possibly opening the door for the UFC, providing Disney don't put the foot down again.

Tazzimus

Tazzimus wrote: »

I see Florida has deemed pro sports an essential service, possibly opening the door for the UFC, providing Disney don't put the foot down again.

Jimmy Smith and his sidekick do a good quick-ish summary of this (15 mins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv4qroSPBVQ
They explain the link from Vince WWE McMahon to his wife Linda (Rep) Admin of US SBA and chairwoman of Trump super PAC upwards and speculate on Dana using this path to shows in May.
More interesting than I made it sound! :pac:

Oh and GSP live with Ariel now, just in case... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbvhdQWLCMQ

Edit to add: so nice to see him so relaxed and happy. Really a different man. Huge fan (not the most stylish fighter) but as a martial artist he's really a phenomenal example.

DrPhilG

Trump is currently speaking about the need to reopen sporting seasons. Name dropped Dana and the UFC in the process.

Esse85

DrPhilG wrote: »

Trump is currently speaking about the need to reopen sporting seasons. Name dropped Dana and the UFC in the process.

Wonder how much Dana paid him to do that.

DrPhilG

Esse85 wrote: »

Wonder how much Dana paid him to do that.

He listed off the NBA, NFL, MLB, UFC, MLS and a few other sports & organisations and all of their owners or presidents.

WWE and Vince got a mention too.

Esse85

Esse85 wrote: »

Wonder how much Dana paid him to do that.

Unbelievable. Links straight back to the Florida/WWE superpac that Mrs McMahon runs: he had a 2% margin there in 2016. With 29 electoral college votes it's no 4 after California and Texas (tied with New York). He needs it in 2020..

I'm missing live US sports as much as the rest if not more, but that's outrageous.

US2

9th of may dana says next card will be

Starlord_01

US2 wrote: »

9th of may dana says next card will be

Wonder how they will pull this one off.

ricero

****ing hell what a fight card.

MidlanderMan

Werdum's first fight back since his ban, I thought he'd left the organisation.

https://twitter.com/bokamotoESPN/status/1250212447572635650?s=19

Porthallian

The full proposed lineup for the May 9 UFC event is as follows:

Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje
Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz
Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer
Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Jeremy Stephens vs. Calvin Kattar
Donald Cerrone vs. Anthony Pettis
Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan De Castro
Alexey Oleynik vs. Fabricio Werdum
Carla Esparza vs. Michelle Waterson
Ronaldo Souza vs. Uriah Hall
Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price
Charles Rosa vs. Bryce Mitchell

That would be fantastic!!
Won't hold my breath though...

Whelo79

Do we know where the venue might be? Indian reservation? Florida? Fight Island?

Homelander

That card is unbelievable.

SDTimeout

Homelander wrote: »

That card is unbelievable.

it's to keep with the theme of the fact it won't happen