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UFC announces written Code of Conduct

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1/24/13 7:11 PM

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Underground Blog 35 The total sum of your votes up and votes down

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MixedMartialArts.com

At today's FOX 6 pre-fight press conference, UFC COO Lawrence Epstein announced the compary would iniate a written code of conduct at the beginning of this weekend's event. The UFC’s Conduct Policy does not represent a new policy, so much as it is a codifying existing standards.

Helping to implement the policy will be just announced UFC Vice President of Athlete Development and Government Relations Matt Hughes.

"The implementation of a written code of conduct for UFC athletes," said Epstein. "There's gonna be a huge connection with what Hughes does and our new code of conduct. It's really not something that's new, just something that's been put in writing. We've always felt our athletes need to live up to a high level of conduct and the high standards of the UFC.

"This whole situation really started frankly when we took a look at the sports landscape and looked at what all the other major sports leagues were doing like the NFL, Major League Baseball, NHL, etc. We also took a look at what some of the associations are doing.

"I think, as many of you know, UFC's relationship with athletes is an independent contractor relationship. It's not like the relationship in the NFL where they're actually employees of the team. We looked at some of those organizations that had similar legal models and what we discovered was those organizations had an individual who was responsible for what they call athlete development and what we're calling athlete development also. The role of that person was first and foremost to be a mentor, to try and provide experience to hopefully keep guys out of trouble and stop guys from making mistakes that could affect both their career and could tarnish the image of mixed martial arts and the UFC."

"We took a look at our roster of athletes and fighters who have helped built the sport. Matt Hughes is a great guy, has done a lot of good works throughout his career. Matt is going to be that guy for us. He's going to be the mentor for our 450 athletes. He comes with a unique set of experiences and has been at the highest level of the sport. He knows the challenges that come along with that and will be providing that perspective to our athletes.

'We're trying to make the UFC the best place in the world for athletes and frankly to be second to none. I don't think anybody is more focused on the relationship with athletes than Dana White is. We've developed the fighter healthcare program and this one today is the next step in the experience between UFC athletes and the organization."

“Hughes will be an invaluable resource for UFC athletes. Leveraging the background and expertise he gained over a Hall of Fame career, Hughes will be dedicated to providing guidance on a wide range of issues athletes face inside and outside of the Octagon. This includes understanding the heightened social responsibility that comes with being in the public eye, to best practices when dealing with endorsements or managing finances, to the basic daily challenges of staying healthy during training, as well as the need to steer clear of illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs.

“In addition to his work with UFC athletes, Hughes will engage with state athletic commissions and international federations to provide regulatory insight from the perspective of a professional athlete.”

Read entire article...

In an interview with Bleacher Report, Epstein provided further details.

“This stuff’s already frankly been in place for many, many years and we’ve always sort of had an unwritten code of conduct that we expected our athletes to live up to," reiterated Epstein. "Now we put it in writing, that’s really the only change. There are some teeth in the program, penalties associated with violations, but as far as we’re concerned this policy is going into effect immediately.”

When asked about “the teeth” of the policy Epstein said that there would be financial penalties associated with violating the policy, but also some community service.

“For example, if you make a discriminatory comment about a certain community, you would be required to provide some community service to that community. In our view that’s going to turn into a benefit. It’s easy to criticize people you don’t know, but once you get to know somebody, once you get to experience what they’re all about it sort of changes you as a person in a way that money or fines could never do.”

Read entire article...

1/24/13 7:14 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
kid chaos 9 Member Since: 7/24/09 Posts: 1586	I'm site there's 10x amout of the "ufcs unwritten code of conduct" aswell You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 7:14 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
kid chaos 9 Member Since: 7/24/09 Posts: 1587	kid chaos - I'm site there's 10x amout of the "ufcs unwritten code of conduct" aswell Sure* You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 7:24 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Hocky Balboa 935 Member Since: 12/23/08 Posts: 11933	Guideline #6 in the Code of Conduct: Never throw a guy through the window of his own home. You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 7:39 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
FanToFighter 6 Member Since: 9/29/12 Posts: 297	Lol @ Matt Hughes leading this. I don't think Dana read his book You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 7:42 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
UGCTT_ Lay'n'PrayNINJA Member Since: 5/13/11 Posts: 16833	If the UFC wants to have a Code of Conduct, and be able to control everything that the fighters do in and out of the cage, they need to stop treating them legally as INDEPENDANT CONTRACTORS. You can't have the best of both worlds and get the control of an Employer, yet the freedom of having Independant Contractors fighting for you. You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 7:43 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Rabid Bunyip 16 Member Since: 7/10/12 Posts: 416	"Athletes undertake to not retell rape related jokes...and to minimise actual rape activities" You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 7:54 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Chiron 16 Member Since: 10/14/07 Posts: 605	Rule #1 - Thou Shall Not Pointfight. You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 7:55 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
yellow wrkahlc 54 Member Since: 6/9/12 Posts: 6982	It all sounds very good, but Matt Hughes? I mean...really? You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 8:01 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
jamesklyne Member Since: 8/29/07 Posts: 95	I always want to learn from people who fucked up in the past and straightened their shit out. They have more insight than someone who simply tip-toed through life. You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 8:04 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
MdGeist Member Since: 6/10/12 Posts: 1386	Rule #19 - If you win the Ultimate Fighter, do not ignore the Harley Davidson guy when he gives you the keys to a motorcycle. Rule #20 - Do not ride any motorcycles that the Harley Davidson guy gives you. You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 8:07 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
demonsurge 2 Member Since: 6/3/10 Posts: 116	Code of Conduct does not matter when in Africa You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 8:07 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
OnlyTheStrongSurvive 253 Member Since: 1/29/11 Posts: 10531	Hocky Balboa - Guideline #6 in the Code of Conduct: Never throw a guy through the window of his own home. To make it sound more official: All UFC fighters are prohibited from the defenestration of other people within their own homes. You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 8:08 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Orcus Knows MMA Better Than Goku Member Since: 8/6/08 Posts: 21537	1. COUNTRY BREAKFAST 2. READ THE BIBLE 3. ?????? PROFIT You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 8:10 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
sitchpack 1 Member Since: 9/14/12 Posts: 915	Didnt hughes get his twin brother to hold dudes' arms behind their.back and he hughes would beat the fuck out of them? He mentions it in his book............. You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 8:10 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
TheIronCodpiece Member Since: 1/2/11 Posts: 213	Sigh, this is what's leading to disinterest of this sport. It's losing it's honesty. It's not real anymore. People aren't allowed to be themselves. Soon enough they're gunna have speech coaches to tell fighters how to talk to the press and etc, like they do with football and basketball You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 8:14 PM

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OnlyTheStrongSurvive 253 The total sum of your votes up and votes down

Member Since: 1/29/11
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TheIronCodpiece -
Sigh, this is what's leading to disinterest of this sport. It's losing it's honesty. It's not real anymore. People aren't allowed to be themselves. Soon enough they're gunna have speech coaches to tell fighters how to talk to the press and etc, like they do with football and basketball

This probably is more of a common sense thing. Like don't go crazy in a truck with a giant picture of your face on it while on Mt Dew or don't get into a fight at the hospital, just public things that make the sport look bad. You know Dana won't make a rule about talking or language, how is he going to keep people from being "real?" Phone Post

1/24/13 8:21 PM

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Kings21 5 The total sum of your votes up and votes down

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MdGeist -
Rule #19 - If you win the Ultimate Fighter, do not ignore the Harley Davidson guy when he gives you the keys to a motorcycle.

Rule #20 - Do not ride any motorcycles that the Harley Davidson guy gives you.

lol exactly. I personally would like all professional athletes to leave the motorcycle riding until after they're retired but for the UFC to not only be sponsored by ANY motocycle company and then advise their athletes to not ride them is just rediculous. Talk about wanting the best of both worlds.

1/24/13 8:30 PM

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TheIronCodpiece

Member Since: 1/2/11
Posts: 214

OnlyTheStrongSurvive -
TheIronCodpiece -
Sigh, this is what's leading to disinterest of this sport. It's losing it's honesty. It's not real anymore. People aren't allowed to be themselves. Soon enough they're gunna have speech coaches to tell fighters how to talk to the press and etc, like they do with football and basketball
This probably is more of a common sense thing. Like don't go crazy in a truck with a giant picture of your face on it while on Mt Dew or don't get into a fight at the hospital, just public things that make the sport look bad. You know Dana won't make a rule about talking or language, how is he going to keep people from being "real?"

Fair enough. I just see this sport losing a lot of what made it fun to follow

1/24/13 8:33 PM

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OnlyTheStrongSurvive 253 The total sum of your votes up and votes down

Member Since: 1/29/11
Posts: 10539

TheIronCodpiece -
OnlyTheStrongSurvive -
TheIronCodpiece -
Sigh, this is what's leading to disinterest of this sport. It's losing it's honesty. It's not real anymore. People aren't allowed to be themselves. Soon enough they're gunna have speech coaches to tell fighters how to talk to the press and etc, like they do with football and basketball
This probably is more of a common sense thing. Like don't go crazy in a truck with a giant picture of your face on it while on Mt Dew or don't get into a fight at the hospital, just public things that make the sport look bad. You know Dana won't make a rule about talking or language, how is he going to keep people from being "real?"

Fair enough. I just see this sport losing a lot of what made it fun to follow

I get where your coming from, but I think this may be more of a P.R. and get Matt Hughes' new job some attention move than anything. There is no way the UFC haven't had any rules regarding conduct already, I wouldn't worry about it. Phone Post

1/24/13 8:35 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
atlantis_ninjah Edited: 01/24/13 9:15 PM Member Since: 6/17/12 Posts: 53	Oh I see, so only the president has the freedom of speech to say things like faggot and now Hugues will be the morality enforcer. absolutely disgusting that they would follow what the other sports are doing just because the other sports are following what the government is directing them to do outside of law, you have no free speech, this is Obamanation not America. You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 8:51 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
HexRei Member Since: 6/4/07 Posts: 11848	LOL. did dana bother to read his book? You have ignored this user.

1/24/13 8:54 PM

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HexRei

Member Since: 6/4/07
Posts: 11850

atlantis_ninjah - Oh I see, so only the president has the freedom of speech to say things like faggot and know Hugues will be the morality enforcer. absolutely disgusting that they would follow what the other sports are doing just because the other sports are following what the government is directing them to do outside of law, you have no free speech, this is Obamanation not America.

Wow, the irony. We have Hughes, a confirmed christian conservative republican and staunch anti-obama voter, enforcing the policy, yet somehow obama is responsible for the UFC's selection of Hughes to enforce policy.

1/24/13 9:08 PM

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TheIronCodpiece

Edited: 01/24/13 9:10 PM
Member Since: 1/2/11
Posts: 215

OnlyTheStrongSurvive -
TheIronCodpiece -
OnlyTheStrongSurvive -
TheIronCodpiece -
Sigh, this is what's leading to disinterest of this sport. It's losing it's honesty. It's not real anymore. People aren't allowed to be themselves. Soon enough they're gunna have speech coaches to tell fighters how to talk to the press and etc, like they do with football and basketball

This probably is more of a common sense thing. Like don't go crazy in a truck with a giant picture of your face on it while on Mt Dew or don't get into a fight at the hospital, just public things that make the sport look bad. You know Dana won't make a rule about talking or language, how is he going to keep people from being "real?"

Fair enough. I just see this sport losing a lot of what made it fun to follow

I get where your coming from, but I think this may be more of a P.R. and get Matt Hughes' new job some attention move than anything. There is no way the UFC haven't had any rules regarding conduct already, I wouldn't worry about it.

Makes sense. Admittedly. my post was just a knee-jerk reaction, because my patience has worn thin lol

Still don't like the pretense of having to toe some imaginary line, though

1/24/13 9:16 PM

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atlantis_ninjah

Member Since: 6/17/12
Posts: 54

HexRei -
atlantis_ninjah - Oh I see, so only the president has the freedom of speech to say things like faggot and know Hugues will be the morality enforcer. absolutely disgusting that they would follow what the other sports are doing just because the other sports are following what the government is directing them to do outside of law, you have no free speech, this is Obamanation not America.

Wow, the irony. We have Hughes, a confirmed christian conservative republican and staunch anti-obama voter, enforcing the policy, yet somehow obama is responsible for the UFC's selection of Hughes to enforce policy.

yeah both parties are evil and taking away freedom

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