Organization-to-Organization Trading Could Revolutionize MMA

When professional sports franchises look to change their on-field product, there are essentially only a handful of options.

In most instances, trades between ball clubs are typically the most efficient way to immediately improve a team’s disposition. As for an athlete who has been deemed expendable, teams theoretically receive a veteran player who is ready to contribute on arrival and already has an established fan base.

The best aspect of trading is that in many instances both participating parties benefit simultaneously.

Not surprisingly, UFC president Dana White isn’t likely to cooperate with his competition in regards to trading their athletes, as historically he has all but waged war on rival organizations.

From counter-programming rival organizations' live events, to refusing to co-promote in any capacity to put on bouts that fans have been dying to see, to constantly belittling rival organizations in the media, White has made it abundantly clear that he has absolutely zero interest in any type of cooperation.

Although it is far-fetched, there are certainly Bellator, Dream FC, Maximum Fighting Championship, and Strikeforce athletes that would make a nice contribution to the UFC’s already deep roster, and it is no secret that there are some athletes in the UFC that aren’t what they once were or are just not ready to be competing at the top level yet.

Considering post-pay-per-view roster cuts have become commonplace with White, it would make sense to trade away fighters the UFC was to release anyway, for at the very least, a new preliminary card prospect.

Considering the majority of UFC cuts eventually sign with one of the four aforementioned organizations, Bellator, Dream FC, Maximum Fighting Championship, and Strikeforce brass obviously see value in UFC cast-offs, so it is foreseeable that White would want to get literally something out of nothing and trade away athletes that would otherwise be released onto the open market.

Because White and possibly the other organization’s executives are more than likely unwilling to cooperate with each other, trading is perhaps an unrealistic idea at this point, but organization-to-organization trading is an exercise that could benefit both participating parties and ensure that fans get to see the fights that need to happen.