By: SHAWN W. SMITH
It was February 16 when Chris Leben sent out the Tweet that puzzled MMA fans.
I wish I would’ve drove truck last 10yrs, then at least is have insurance to see a counselor. Ufc left me broken with nithing
— Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) February 16, 2014
After fighting for the UFC since 2005, Leben announced his retirement after a 12 year career as a mixed martial artist. A pioneer of The Ultimate Fighter series, he helped draw millions of eyes to the sport with his brawling style and dramatic personality. After giving so much to the sport, many voiced concerns over Leben being left with no money, insurance, or pension plan to help the 33-year-old.
Leben has not always been his own best friend. A substantial drug issue, one which saw him fail a post-fight drug test in his November of 2011 main event against Mark Munoz (his second failed UFC drug test), as well as alcohol problems left the fighter in a somewhat marred state.
In an interview with Bloody Elbow, Leben said “It really is better now. The bottom line is, especially with all the illegal drugs, I was spending all the money I was making anyways. Six in one, half dozen in the other. I used to fight, the way I fought, I didn’t give a shit.”
Leben of course is not the only fighter who has struggled financially. Many fighters, both during their career and in retirement, have struggled financially in all forms of combat sports. The story of Joe Louis, generally regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, dying a broken down and poor man is tragic. A more contemporary example is lightweight fighter Donald Cerrone. A perennial top 10 fighter, Cerronerecently said in an interview with Majority Draw Radio that”What really happened is I spent all my money, so I’m broke, and I only have one choice but to fight,”
Fighters and those who sympathize with them will look at North American sports leagues for examples of what a pension should look like. Benefits range from somewhat minimal in the NHL (A $250,000 payment at 55, in addition to $8,500 a year at 45 if you have played under 400 games, $12,500 if over 400 games) to fairly substantial in the MLB (full health benefits for life after one day in the league, 10 years in the league nets you $200,000 a year at 62).
Those who don’t sympathize with fighters will more often compare mixed martial artists with other combat sports athletes, such as boxers. Some states, such as California, have a bare-bone pension plan in place, but most have none.
So what is the answer? What is expected of the UFC?
As mixed martial arts moves from its teenage years into young adulthood, we’re going to see more fighters retire and struggle with financial issues. UFC President Dana White has made it perfectly clear on numerous occasions that the promotion is an independent contractor, meaning that the fighters are hired to provide a service (fighting) and do not serve as employees of the company. The athletes are responsible for their own expenses, and are only expected to be compensated for the service they provided. Any fight bonuses or health benefits (which the UFC offers to fighters under contract, including Leben during his time in rehab) are considered extras.
The UFC see fighters competing for them as commodities. The independently contracted fighters deliver a service and get paid for that service. What is not taken into account is that the service provided by fighters is detrimental to their health. The blows they take while under contract to the UFC (or any other promotion) will assuredly result in some form of brain damage and shorten their lives.
Of course, a fighter knows this when signing with the UFC. They know that competing as a combat sports athlete is not a healthy profession.
At this point in the sport’s growth, it comes down to morals. With no contractual obligation, the UFC is absolutely not required to deliver any form of pension or benefits after the fighter has completed their service.
In the perfect world, fighters like Leben would know how to handle their money and plan for life beyond combat sports. In that same perfect world, UFC contracts would have some form of benefits or pension that lasts beyond the expiration of a contract.
Currently, there is no answer to this problem. Perhaps we’ll have to wait until a high-calibre fighter demands a pension as part of their contract, or maybe fighters will eventually become UFC employees and a plan will be established. Either way, this is an issue that both fighters and contractors (UFC) will have to deal with sooner than later. As fighters continue to retire, there will be more questions asked about what is expected from a promotion.
