Donald Cerrone not sold on proposed UFC fighters' union

The Professional Fighters Association pressed forward in hopes of forming a fighter’s union on Thursday evening with a press conference in Las Vegas, where baseball agent Jeff Borris held court about fighters’ needs for things such as a pension, health insurance, a grievance process and fighter input in an anti-doping policy.

Borris, along with Lucas Middlebrook (best known as Nate Diaz’s attorney), is in Las Vegas hoping to get the ball rolling on establishing the union. In order to get started, the pair will need 30 percent of UFC fighters to sign an authorization card, which will allow a National Labor Relations Board election. After that, they would then need a majority of the UFC roster to vote “yes” for the PFA to collectively bargain with the UFC.

There are fighters who are in favor of a union, but still on the fence trying to figure out what the direction of the PFA will be. One of those fighters happens to be one of the more outspoken when it comes to fighters being treated fairly: Donald Cerrone.

“If it’s all about money, I don’t want to have anything to do with it,” Cerrone told Sherdog prior to his UFC 202 showdown with Rick Story. “If the fighters are going to get together, we’re going to talk about health care and dental. If we’re going to get together because we have problems with the uniform or sponsorship, then I’m [expletive] for it. If the union is going to get together and back us for all of the good, I’m all about it. But if we’re getting together because people are worried about money, then I don’t want any part of it.”

Cerrone also said that he has yet to be approached by the PFA and admits he’s relatively in the dark about what the PFA’s plans are. However, he’s certainly interested in being on the front lines if the PFA’s values are in line with his own.

Borris appears to be on the same page as Cerrone and outlined what he hopes to tackle in the near future. For one, he is looking to raise the minimum purse, which currently sits at $10,000 for a fight and an additional $10,000 if the fighter wins. From there, the union would look to secure fighters full medical coverage that extends beyond injuries sustained in the Octagon and would treat illnesses for themselves as well as spouses and children.

Leslie Smith was the only contracted UFC fighter to attend Thursday’s press conference, and former UFC fighter and current Bellator heavyweight, Matt Mitrione, was also present. Borris said he extended invites to UFC president Dana White, new UFC owner Ari Emanuel of WMI-IMG and WME co-CEO Patrick Whitesell. They did not show up. He said he did not hear back from Whitesell and White, but spoke with Emanuel and the conversation didn’t exactly go over well.

“He, in a tone only my wife speaks to me in, says, ‘Don’t ever call me again. I don’t want to speak to you. I don’t want to have anything to do with you,'” the former agent for Barry Bonds said. Borris also attempted to speak with fighters at the UFC 202 Ultimate Media Day, but was turned back by security. Although he didn’t speak with any of the fighters competing Saturday, he’s not deterred and figures that everything will eventually come full circle.

“I’m finding out that I don’t need to educate the fighters,” Borris said. “The reason why I I don’t need to educate the fighters is because they’re already educated on the issues. When I talk to them, they know they need these things. They know they need these protections.”