Introduced in 2017 by a former mixed martial artist who also happens to be Rep. Markwayne Mullin, Ali Expansion Act has been opposed by the UFC from the let go. The bill expands on the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000, and the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996. It aims to bring more transparency in MMA w.r.t issues like the contract and fighter pay, bringing more limitations and less freedom to promoters like Dana White and Scott Coker in how they run their business.
Rep. Mullin has also argued that a third-party organization foresees ranking and titles for MMA, to ensure fighters are not forced into accepting the one-sided contract that favors the promoters drastically. However, the bill is yet to become a law and it has always seen opposition from the UFC and then President Donald Trump.
The close relationship between UFC President Dana White and Donald Trump also comes into question here.
UFC fighter Nathan Quarry says Ali Expansion Act is coming to MMA
UFC veteran Nathan Quarry revealed on Twitter that the Ali Expansion Act is coming to MMA, per Rep. Markwayne Mullin. With Donald Trump no longer in power, the chances are high!
BREAKING:
Just got word from Senator @RepMullin that he’s looking to reintroduce the Ali Expansion Act from the senate side of things in 2023.— Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) December 19, 2022
While breaking the news, Quarry made several remarks on the UFC and even went as far as to say that the promotion has “flooded” GOD with cash to ensure the bill is not instated as an act.
How does the Ali Expansion Act affect the UFC? Well, it brings transparency to the sport that continued to potentially take advantage of fighters through its contract that brings the bare minimum to the fighters. In the past, fighters like Jon Jones, Jorge Masvidal, and Nate Diaz, among innumerable other fighters have spoken against the unfair UFC fighter pay but to no avail.
We’ll see. The Ali Act had more democrats than republicans. Last time around with 58 signers we had more from the Right signing on than the Left.
Since then the UFC has flooded the GOP with cash. We’ll see how many have been bought off.— Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) December 19, 2022
Dana White, fighting is not a job, but an opportunity. It’s interesting to note that the UFC has a “Champions’ clause” that allows the promotion to extend the contract if the fighter competes in his last fight as a Champion. The UFC also keeps finances, and fighter payouts as a closely guarded secret, with very little transparency. More often than not, fighters agree on a lengthy contract, with less pay, and renegotiation is a faraway thought.
If Ali Expansion Act is instated in MMA, it will certainly bring more eyes to the welfare of the fighters. Moreoever, it will also put UFC right beside other MMA promotions and not above them.