Gästebuch » but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July.

LOS ANGELES -- Former champions Georges St. Pierre, Cain Velasquez and T.J. Dillashaw are taking on the UFC in an attempt to form a mixed martial arts fighters association.Current UFC fighters Donald Cowboy Cerrone and Tim Kennedy also announced their participation Wednesday in an organizing effort led by the five fighters and advised by Bjorn Rebney, the former CEO of Bellator.The fighters hope to persuade the rest of the UFCs talent to join them in unified negotiation for a greater percentage of revenue from the UFC. The promotion was sold to the WME-IMG entertainment conglomerate earlier this year for roughly $4 billion, an unprecedented price for a sports property.This is a different kind of fight, St. Pierre said. Even though youre afraid, its time to step up and do the right thing. Its a fight (between) what is right and what is wrong, and we should never be afraid to stand for the virtues, to stand for what is right.The Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association is the latest attempt to organize fighters in a famously individualistic sport into a collective bargaining unit. Kennedy, St. Pierre and Rebney all spoke passionately about the need to level the playing field between the UFC and its fighters, who are independent contractors.These athletes are risking more for less than any professional athletes on earth, Rebney said. They are paid pennies on the dollar.Rebney also described the UFC as an egregious, predatory monopoly and vowed to secure an unspecified set of benefits for former UFC fighters as part of a settlement for the promotions past revenue-sharing practices, in addition to improved conditions for current fighters.Other attempts at a fighters organization in recent years have made little headway or are only in their initial stages, but St. Pierre and Velasquez are the biggest stars to join an effort. St. Pierre reigned as the UFCs welterweight champion and one of its top pay-per-view draws from 2007-13, while Velasquez has won the UFC heavyweight belt twice during an injury-plagued career.St. Pierre hasnt fought in three years, but has publicly claimed he is considering a comeback. He has become increasingly antagonistic toward the UFC during his retirement, even claiming to be a free agent earlier this year when he announced tentative plans to fight again.I know agents will be threatened by UFC, and theyll try to convince their fighters that its a bad idea to join us, St. Pierre said. I know, because Ive been there before. I dont have to work another day in my life, but I want to change things for the right.Four of the involved fighters are represented by Creative Artists Agency, a rival of WME-IMG. Rebney repeatedly declined to identify the financiers of the fighters associations efforts, but claimed CAA isnt financially involved.Rebney indicated the fighters dont intend to form a union, but instead intend to persuade the UFC to listen to them through their unity. Rebney indicated labor strikes could be a possible last resort if the UFC declines to negotiate. 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BALTIMORE -- The Cleveland Indians and outfielder Michael Brantley finally have reason to be optimistic about his return this season.Brantley has responded favorably to a medical procedure on his ailing shoulder and expects to resume baseball activities next week.Brantley was placed on the 15-day disabled list in the middle of May with right shoulder inflammation. He had played in only 11 games this season, going 9 for 39 (.231) with two doubles and seven RBI.He recently experienced soreness in front of his shoulder and was shut down in the middle of a rehabilitation assignment.Brantley subsequently had a needle inserted in his shoulder to relieve scar tissue buildup located along the biceps tendon.He felt significantly better after it, head trainer James Quinlan said Friday before the Indians faced the Orioles. A couple more days and he can get back onto a swinging program.Indians manager Terry Francona was greatly concerned after Brantley headed into yet another medical procedure.The fear is when you get tested that extensively you can almost find ssomething on anybody, Francona said.dddddddddddd So the fact that they really didnt was great news. Now its just going to be a matter of days before he starts again.Now in his eighth season with Cleveland, the 29-year-old Brantley made the All-Star team in 2014 and totaled 181 RBI in 2014 and 2015.The Indians entered the weekend in first place in the AL Central, but theyd love to have Brantley back in the lineup. For now, he could be on course for an August return.The doctors were encouraged about what they found with the labrum, Quinlan said. It still looks good.In other injury news, Cleveland placed right-handed reliever Joe Colon on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation and recalled right-hander Cody Anderson from Triple-A Columbus.Francona said Colon was examined in Cleveland on Thursday. The pitcher will be shut down for several days, but Francona says the injury is nothing structurally or anything. ' ' '