Leslie Smith files labor complaint against the UFC

Women’s bantamweight Leslie Smith organized Project Spearhead, a fighter unionization effort, centered at least initially on the UFC. The league characteristically offers fighters a new contract before the old one expires. Smith said none was offered, so her recent fight vs. Aspen Ladd was to have potentially been her last.

When Ladd failed to make weight, Smith offered to fight if she was given a two-fight contract at a flat $100,000 per fight, win or lose. The UFC declined the offer, and Smith considered taking the fight without a contract, but ultimately decided against it, as she is trying to lead an effort to get better contracts. The UFC paid Smith her win and show money, leaving her a free agent.

Smith sought to get 30% of UFC fighters to sign union authorization cards; the deadline is February of 2019. Smith now has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board arguing that the UFC failure to re-sign her was retaliation for the organizing effort, and thus illegal. Attorney Lucas Middlebrook, who has been advising Project Spearhead, wrote the 12-page complaint, which can be found here.

Dare to form, join or assist a union and you too will accompany Ms. Smith not fighting in the UFC, wrote Middlebrook, according to Steven Marrocco for MMAjunkie. This message contravenes the very purpose of the (National Labor Relations Act) and ZUFFA cannot be allowed to continue flouting the Act. No person or entity is above the law.

There simply can be no dispute ZUFFA took adverse action against Ms. Smith, and based on the facts set forth herein and those to be uncovered in the investigation into this issue, ZUFFA’s animus toward Ms. Smith’s protected activity was the substantial or motivating reason for the adverse action(s) taken against her.”

Marrocco said UFC Chief Counsel Hunter Campbell played a central role in the UFC declining to offer Smith a new contract.