MMAAA’s Bjorn Rebney Says UFC Ownership Are “Bullies”
By FCF Staff
Bjorn Rebney had sharp words for the Ultimate Fighting Championship during a recent call to announce the creation of the MMA Athletes Association, and the former Bellator President continues to criticize the company.
Recently it was announced that Rebney is serving as an advisor for the MMAAA, which is seeking to earn a settlement for current and past UFC fighters, raise the revenue share from what they claim is 8% to 50% for fighters, and to negotiate a collective-bargaining agreement.
Rebeny was a guest on the latest “MMA Hour”, and during it, the fomer Bellator exec said this (quote via MMA Fighting.com):
“I hate racists and I hate bullies more than anything on Earth,” Rebney said. “They’re bottom feeders. And WME-IMG and UFC today — that conglomerate — they’re bullies. And it may not be with their hands, but it’s with their money and it’s with their power and it’s with their influence.”
“That didn’t come from Dana or Lorenzo,” Rebney added, while referring to WME-IMG’s reported $4 billion dollar purchase of the UFC. “That came on the backs of fighters, who packed the arenas, drove the pay-per-view buyrates, drove the international and domestic television, the sponsorships, the closed circuit, etc., etc. They deserve to get paid what’s fair…”
The MMAAA currently has Georges St-Pierre, Tim Kennedy, Cain Velasquez, Donald Cerrone and TJ Dillashaw sitting on its fighter board.