For those of you who follow mixed martial arts, Georges St-Pierre’s name certainly rings a bell. According to the famed fighter’s website, St-Pierre has been training since he was 7 years old, when he started studying Kyokushin karate.
Since then, the 170-lbs fighter earned 25 wins, succumbing to defeat only twice in his career. Despite St-Pierre’s dedication and talent, he hasn’t made many headlines in the ring over the past few years. In 2013, the fighter announced he would be leaving the UFC indefinitely, indicating that he wanted to pursue other endeavors.
However, that song changed this year. According to Sports Illustrated, St-Pierre intended to return to the ring in 2016, but a contract dispute between St.-Pierre and the UFC stanched such discussions.
New UFC regulations put a hitch in Georges St-Pierre’s plans
ESPN noted that St-Pierre announced his free agency on “The MMA Hour” in late October, asserting that his lawyer James Quinn terminated the former welterweight champion’s agreement with the UFC. In contrast, the UFC still viewed St-Pierre as a rostered athlete. In a statement, the professional MMA league asserted that St-Pierre is still in an existing contract with UFC’s parent company, Zuffa, LLC, which has every intention of honoring the agreement, which should compel St-Pierre to reciprocate under the eyes of the law.
What complicated St-Pierre’s return? ESPN noted the fighter’s contract was signed before the UFC established an exclusive apparel agreement with Reebok in 2014. Sports Illustrated noted that before St-Pierre announced he was taking an indefinite leave from fighting in 2013, the UFC wasn’t regulating fighter apparel. Its athletes could wear sponsored gear and attire to attract more revenue. MMA Fighting noted that, after the Reebok deal took place, fighters were no longer permitted to wear sponsorship apparel, a policy which received much backlash from the league’s participants.
“[The Reebok deal] changed a lot of things in my contract,” said St-Pierre, as quoted by MMA Fighting. In the background of this, WME-IMG purchased UFC when St-Pierre wasn’t fighting for a whopping $4.2 billion, further complicating the fighter’s contract, according to MMA Fighting.
Georges St-Pierre’s lawyer renegotiating deal
As of right now, St-Pierre’s contract with the UFC is terminated. MMA Mania noted Quinn, who isn’t a stranger to tussling with large sports organizations, claimed he was astounded upon reading St-Pierre’s contract. Apparently, the agreement placed a lot of restrictions on the fighter.
“[The UFC is] basically tying him up for life,” said Quinn. “They have no rights and they own all of his licensing and all the other things. It’s unheard of in the other professional sports. And they won’t get away with it forever … I don’t think the contract – that formal contract – is likely to stand up. Not in today’s world. It’s a pretty nice form of slavery.”
Does Your Homeowners Insurance Provide Adequate Coverage?
Your home is likely your greatest asset, which is why it is so important to adequately protect it. Homeowners insurance protects you from the financial costs of unforeseen losses, such as theft, fire, and natural disasters, by helping you rebuild and replace possessions that were lost While the definition of “adequate” coverage depends upon a […]
Understanding the Importance of a Non-Contingent Offer
Making a non-contingent offer can dramatically increase your chances of securing a real estate transaction, particularly in competitive markets like New York City. However, buyers should understand that waiving contingencies, including those related to financing, or appraisals, also comes with significant risks. Determining your best strategy requires careful analysis of the property, the market, and […]
Fred D. Zemel Appointed Chair of Strategic Planning at Scarinci & Hollenbeck, LLC
Business Transactional Attorney Zemel to Spearhead Strategic Initiatives for Continued Growth and Innovation Little Falls, NJ – February 21, 2025 – Scarinci & Hollenbeck, LLC is pleased to announce that Partner Fred D. Zemel has been named Chair of the firm’s Strategic Planning Committee. In this role, Mr. Zemel will lead the committee in identifying, […]
Novation Agreement Process: Step-by-Step Guide for Businesses
Big changes sometimes occur during the life cycle of a contract. Cancelling a contract outright can be bad for your reputation and your bottom line. Businesses need to know how to best address a change in circumstances, while also protecting their legal rights. One option is to transfer the “benefits and the burdens” of a […]
What Is a Trade Secret? Key Elements and Legal Protections Explained
What is a trade secret and why you you protect them? Technology has made trade secret theft even easier and more prevalent. In fact, businesses lose billions of dollars every year due to trade secret theft committed by employees, competitors, and even foreign governments. But what is a trade secret? And how do you protect […]
What Is Title Insurance? Safeguarding Against Title Defects
If you are considering the purchase of a property, you may wonder — what is title insurance, do I need it, and why do I need it? Even seasoned property owners may question if the added expense and extra paperwork is really necessary, especially considering that people and entities insured by title insurance make fewer […]
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!
Explore What Matters Most to You.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.
What's Up with Georges St-Pierre and his UFC contract?
Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
For those of you who follow mixed martial arts, Georges St-Pierre’s name certainly rings a bell. According to the famed fighter’s website, St-Pierre has been training since he was 7 years old, when he started studying Kyokushin karate.
Since then, the 170-lbs fighter earned 25 wins, succumbing to defeat only twice in his career. Despite St-Pierre’s dedication and talent, he hasn’t made many headlines in the ring over the past few years. In 2013, the fighter announced he would be leaving the UFC indefinitely, indicating that he wanted to pursue other endeavors.
However, that song changed this year. According to Sports Illustrated, St-Pierre intended to return to the ring in 2016, but a contract dispute between St.-Pierre and the UFC stanched such discussions.
New UFC regulations put a hitch in Georges St-Pierre’s plans
ESPN noted that St-Pierre announced his free agency on “The MMA Hour” in late October, asserting that his lawyer James Quinn terminated the former welterweight champion’s agreement with the UFC. In contrast, the UFC still viewed St-Pierre as a rostered athlete. In a statement, the professional MMA league asserted that St-Pierre is still in an existing contract with UFC’s parent company, Zuffa, LLC, which has every intention of honoring the agreement, which should compel St-Pierre to reciprocate under the eyes of the law.
What complicated St-Pierre’s return? ESPN noted the fighter’s contract was signed before the UFC established an exclusive apparel agreement with Reebok in 2014. Sports Illustrated noted that before St-Pierre announced he was taking an indefinite leave from fighting in 2013, the UFC wasn’t regulating fighter apparel. Its athletes could wear sponsored gear and attire to attract more revenue. MMA Fighting noted that, after the Reebok deal took place, fighters were no longer permitted to wear sponsorship apparel, a policy which received much backlash from the league’s participants.
“[The Reebok deal] changed a lot of things in my contract,” said St-Pierre, as quoted by MMA Fighting. In the background of this, WME-IMG purchased UFC when St-Pierre wasn’t fighting for a whopping $4.2 billion, further complicating the fighter’s contract, according to MMA Fighting.
Georges St-Pierre’s lawyer renegotiating deal
As of right now, St-Pierre’s contract with the UFC is terminated. MMA Mania noted Quinn, who isn’t a stranger to tussling with large sports organizations, claimed he was astounded upon reading St-Pierre’s contract. Apparently, the agreement placed a lot of restrictions on the fighter.
“[The UFC is] basically tying him up for life,” said Quinn. “They have no rights and they own all of his licensing and all the other things. It’s unheard of in the other professional sports. And they won’t get away with it forever … I don’t think the contract – that formal contract – is likely to stand up. Not in today’s world. It’s a pretty nice form of slavery.”
