Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 30th, at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT, because there’s a big announcement planned that includes some of the biggest names in the sport.
The names on tap include several former UFC champions and current UFC contenders: Georges St-Pierre, Cain Velasquez, TJ Dillashaw, Donald Cerrone, and Tim Kennedy. Perhaps the name that jumps out the most is Bellator MMA founder Bjorn Rebney, who has been in virtual exile since Viacom let him go from Bellator in 2014. You may remember the last tweet he sent before his Bellator days came to an end:
MEXICO!!
— Bjorn Rebney (@BjornRebney) June 29, 2014
O’Malley Hansen Communications told MMA Fighting that “all details are embargoed until Wednesday.” Early speculation suggests that it has something to do with a fighters union, especially given how vocal Cerrone has recently been for leading the charge for a fighters union. Meanwhile, St-Pierre is currently in a contract dispute with the UFC.
It’s important to note that every fighter listed here, with the exception of Cerrone, is represented by Creative Artists Agency, which is a rival of WME-IMG, the new owners of the UFC. Recently, Dillashaw was passed over for a bantamweight title shot by Cody Garbrandt, who will fight Dominick Cruz in the UFC 207 main event. In an interview with ESPN, he did bring up the potential conflict of interest at play, but never said that was the reason for not getting his rematch vs. Cruz.
“I know WME and CAA are rivals, and I really hope this has nothing to do with that,” Dillashaw said. “Ever since WME took over, that’s been in the back of my head — that it could be a conflict of interest.”
Bloody Elbow will have complete coverage of the conference call when it happens.
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