Rousey and management in arbitration today
Representatives of Ronda Rousey and estranged management Fight Tribe met before CSAC director Andy Foster, who will arbitrate the dispute.
UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey holds that her contract with the management group Fight Tribe is invalid. Today representatives of both sides met before California State Athletic Commission director Andy Foster, who will arbitrate the dispute.
Under California Business and Professions Code §18640, the CSAC has the sole direction, management, control of and jurisdiction of fighter management contract disputes in MMA and boxing in California.
Foster, who will be assisted by two California deputy attorney generals, will receive briefs from both sides, and will hear witnesses.
A legally-binding ruling is expected next week.
This might take a while, said Rousey’s attorney, Steven Bash, adding the UFC champ will be in attendance at the meeting, which takes place in Los Angeles.
Rousey’s position is that her agreement with Fight Tribe doesn’t hold up under California law. The lawyer declined to go into specifics about the nature of the fighter’s issues with the management firm.
Maybe it all comes out later in the future, but right now, like in any relationship that comes to an end, there is an emotional component to it, he said.
The fact is, that the representation agreement is voidable and null and not legally enforceable, he later added. Once we get a determination, then we’ll go from there, but that’s really what the issue is.
However, a source close to Fight Tribe said CSAC’s decision is limited in its jurisdiction, or where it was enforceable in court.
The nature of the dispute has not been made public. It may become clear when Foster makes his decision.