UFC 202 fighters skeptical about the possible formation of a union

LAS VEGAS — Jeff Borris, the man attempting to organize UFC fighters to start a union, was at UFC 202 media day Thursday at Red Rock Resort. Wearing a Professional Fighters Association polo shirt, he wanted to come in, talk to a few fighters and maybe pass out some business cards.

Soon after, Borris was asked to leave by UFC security and he did so. Later Thursday night, the PFA held its first-ever press conference at MGM Signature.

That group and multiple others are reaching out to fighters in an attempt to galvanize them. New York-based law firm Lichten & Bright have sent out mailers to hundreds of UFC athletes.

This is a hot topic in mixed martial arts, especially since the Fertitta brothers sold the UFC to WME-IMG for $4 billion last month, a sale that officially closed this week. The PFA has gotten decent media exposure. The MMA Fighters Association, a group focused on bringing boxing’s Ali Act to MMA without a certified union, has also been very visible.

But how do fighters feel about this? Many are unsure about what it would entail and others are afraid to speak out, Borris said at the PFA press conference. Some are downright skeptical of the whole process.

“A lot of these guys, it looks like they’re looking for something in their best interest that’s not really gonna help me,” said Tim Means, who fights Sabah Homasi at UFC 202. “We all think differently.”

Means said he has received letters in the mail from different attorneys about a union. Cortney Casey, who faces Randa Markos on Saturday, said she has also received mailers.

“They stay on my counter,” Casey said. “Haven’t even opened them. … I’m happy with my job right now. If it happens, it happens. We can’t change what other fighters are doing. As long as my family is taken care of and I’m taken care of, I’m happy.”

Borris spoke about minimum fight purses and medical insurance being top priority for a UFC fighters union Thursday. He also mentioned things like collectively bargaining a pension, grievance process, drug-testing policy and an apparel deal.

For the most part, those are things that would catch a fighter’s ear. Donald Cerrone said it can’t just be about how much money fighters are getting.

“It’s like, if guys are getting fined or guys are acting up, we work as a team of fighters to decide should he get …

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