California Weighs CSAC Sponsorships to Boost MMA Fighter Pensions

Overview

• A California bill would let the state athletic commission sell sponsorships, including logos on referees, judges, and other officials, to fund the MMA retirement program.
• CSAC director Andy Foster proposes sending about 75% of sponsorship revenue to fighters’ pension accounts and 25% to officials’ training and small added pay.
• Under the 2023 law, fighters who log 39 rounds in California receive payment at age 50, and Foster projects those payouts could reach $150,000 to $300,000.
• Former UFC fighters Chris Leben and Frank Trigg endorse the plan, citing low purses and saying the money would mainly help in-state fighters who never became stars.
• Opponents question whether a government regulator should broker private sponsorships, and the bill’s fate remains uncertain as it moves through the legislature.