(Dammit Ken, this is why we begged you to get a real attorney. No matter what he says, watching every episode of ‘Judge Judy’ does not qualify Big John to give legal advice.)
If we’ve learned anything at all from receiving UFC press releases over the last few years, it’s that the world’s top MMA organization is not the most gracious of winners. Whether they beat you in a ratings battle or a game of hangman, they’re probably going to gloat about it in a press release. The latest opportunity for internet chest-thumping comes in the form of a legal victory over UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock, who lost his lawsuit in a Nevada court today and now gets to have his nose rubbed in it by Zuffa’s PR staff. Because apparently laboring on far past his prime wasn’t enough of an indignity.
You may recall that Shamrock sued the UFC when they refused to give him another fight following his post-beatdown retirement after a third loss to Tito Ortiz. Shamrock thought he should be able to unretire and have the UFC honor the old contract, while the UFC thought he should go get his face smashed elsewhere. Turns out Judge Susan H. Johnson agreed with the UFC, which means Shamrock won’t be getting a fat payday after all this legal wrangling. Instead, just to make his life even worse, he may be getting a bill:
“The UFC has a clear and unambiguous attorney fee clause in all of its contracts with fighters to the effect, that in the event a fighter loses any contractual challenge in court, that fighter will be responsible for paying our fees. Accordingly, we will be filing a motion to seek recovery of all of our expenses and fees which were occasioned by this lawsuit.”
Now that’s some cold-ass shit, UFC. I realize it costs you money to fight legal claims by disgruntled former fighters. I realize that clause in the contract is partially designed to deter frivolous claims, and that it entitles you to come back on Shamrock for the price of your attorney fees. But damn.
You know what Ken’s financial situation is like these days, don’t you? Dude was trying to fight Seth Petruzelli in Mexico just recently. Mexico. No one does that if they have plenty of money in the bank. This is a guy who is in your hall of fame. He’s also a guy who has nothing much at all going for him at the moment. You, on the other hand, have millions of dollars. We’re talking Scrooge McDuck money. Couldn’t you afford to let Shammy slide on this one?
Why would the UFC need a clause like this when everyone knows they treat their fighters like gold? Don’t they? Hmm…