There have been quite a few major industry-changing advances in the MMA community as of late. Earlier this year, UFC legend Randy Couture joined several fighters, including former UFC fighter Cung Le, in announcing the formation of the MMA Fighters Association. This month however, former UFC welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre, former UFC champions TJ Dillashaw and Cain Velasquez, and fan favorite fighters Donald Cerrone & Tim Kennedy announced the formation of the MMA Athletes Association, which was aimed at UFC fighters.
The way featherweight champion Jose Aldo sees it, the MMAFA is focused on bettering fighters across all promotions, not just the UFC. In addition, Aldo is suspicious of former Bellator MMA CEO Bjorn Rebney’s involvement in the MMAAA, much like UFC President Dana White, and several other figures in the MMA community are.
Aldo spoke to MMAFighting:
“(MMAAA) invited me to be a part of this association, but I don’t think everything is clear with this association,” Aldo said. “There are others going on, laws in the American Senate as well, so there’s a lot going on to help fighters. When it’s possible for me to be present and be a part of things that will benefit the athletes, I will always fight for us.”
“This association was created by a former Bellator president, so I don’t know what’s the real intention behind it, if it’s something for the fighters,” he continued. “I’m part of one, too, with Randy Couture, Cung Le, that has an open mind to help fighters, not only the ones in the UFC.”
“Our world isn’t focused only in the UFC,” Aldo said. “We have millions of fighters, trillions of fighters that need help. We won’t fight with a promotion just because we’re exclusive there. I fight for everybody, national and international, no matter where they are. I want to help those athletes. Not only those in the UFC, those that are in the big league and can have a better future, but those in the small promotions and need our help.”
It is important to point out that Rebney certainly was not the creator of the MMAAA, and UFC middleweight Tim Kennedy, who is a part of the association, has stated that Rebney will not be on the board of the MMAAA, and that role is reserved for fighters.