One of the biggest stories of 2016 has been the emerging support among UFC fighters to unionize on some level. Though efforts to form a fighter's association have been around for over a decade, the sale of the UFC from Zuffa to WME-IMG earlier this year for $4 billion emboldened many fighters to make substantive movement towards a union. It also brought the interest of outside actors like baseball agent Jeff Borris who began building the Professional Fighter's Association (PFA). Two weeks ago, the PFA announced its intention to appoint an interim executive board made up of nine current UFC fighters, something it says will kick start the next step of the unionization process.

Well, UFC President Dana White sounds less than enthused. Speaking with Jim Rome yesterday on a special SiriusXM Town Hall, White channeled his inner Liam Neeson when responding to a question about his thoughts on what Borris and some fighters are attempting to accomplish.

"Good luck to ya. The fighting business is so different - this is an individual sport, this isn't a team sport. It's completely different. Let me tell you what. These fighters have managers for one fight and they fire them and then they're on to the next guy. It's a lot of crazy stuff that goes on in this business.

"But at the end of the day do I care about a union? I've got to negotiate with somebody. A union wouldn't be my problem, the union would be the fighters' problem."

The big driver behind current unionization efforts is the hefty price tag on the UFC. Selling for $4 billion gave a concrete value by which fighters could judge their worth and, for many, the math doesn't add up. Much of the UFC bookkeeping isn't publicly available but some estimates put the fighters collectively earning only 15 percent of UFC revenue, a big difference from the 50 percent earned by athletes in many other major sports leagues.

But the PFA is a long way from a done deal. First they have to file with the National Labor Relations Board and that requires having at least 30 percent of the UFC roster sign authorization cards (essentially, proof of joining the ranks). They also first have to have get a court to declare that UFC fighters are actual employees and not independent contractors, a legal argument which picked up steam for the fighters last year with the implementation of the UFC-Reebok deal and fighter uniforms.

White though - who has a history of disagreements with unions - urged caution for the fighters.

"Unions don't necessarily make things better, you know what I mean? Careful what you wish for... I couldn't care either way. I could care less. It doesn't matter to me."

A dramatic increase in revenue sharing among the fighters figures to cut into the company's overall profits which would actually by quite bad for White. With the UFC acquisition, WME-IMG took on debt with the end result being that they need to make potentially as much as $137 million a year just to pay off just the interest and that doesn't include paying off the debt itself. Furthermore, Dana White's newly restructured UFC deal is for five years earning a salary of 9 percent of the net profits of the company.

No wonder he doesn't sound enthused.

MUST-READ STORIES

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Schmuck. Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor verbally spar in a TV spot ahead of UFC 205.

2 million buys. Dana White is expecting big PPV numbers but not Mayweather-Pacquiao numbers.

Suuuure. Dana White says he will never trust Jon Jones in a headlining role again.

Rhett Butler. Shinya Aoki would love a trilogy with Eddie Alvarez but doesn't "give a damn" about the UFC.

MEDIA STEW

Embedded 4.

Presser highlights ICYMI.

Double shot of Cowherd and his new wealth of UFC knowledge.

Stipe on Undisputed.

And Miesha.

President-elect might be at UFC 205.

MJ talking title shot.

LISTEN UP

Three Amigos w/ Jim Miller

TFATK

MMA Mad with Liz Carmouche.

TWEETS

Rhyming like Ali

I'm a fucking pimp, rocking all white Gucci mink, and without me, this whole fucking ship sink pic.twitter.com/XV94e40RSL — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 11, 2016

Dressing like Frazier.

McGregor a sharp muddafugga, knows his combat sports history. Outfit today was inspired by Joe Frazier, 1974, prior to the Ali fight at MSG: pic.twitter.com/6GLpi9c1ig — Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) November 11, 2016

Nice.

Well that was Fun !! That You guys for coming out ...Even the Irish telling me Fuck you was enjoyable ... I am Blessed — Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) November 10, 2016

T-Wood could be a real good champ for the UFC if he gets past Wonderboy and gets a push.

Cool to see.

Ten years ago we had a problem, but nothing better in life than to evolve professionally and spiritually! Nice to meet you pic.twitter.com/O58wH8vXFZ — Cristiano Marcello (@CristianoBJJ) November 10, 2016

The latest edition of "Sage standing next to things."

Walking down the Streets of Manhattan pic.twitter.com/0w7dcEK1rh — Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) November 11, 2016

I should be cleared to fight by February. I would do whatever it takes to fight on the Brooklyn card. @ufc@seanshelby #NYMMA — Ryan LaFlare (@RLaFlare) November 10, 2016

Dagger.

How you act when u know somebody gone break it up! @thenotoriousmma @ealvarezfight #ufc #ufcpresser #ufc205 #ufc205 A video posted by Tyron Woodley (@twooodley) on Nov 10, 2016 at 1:27pm PST

This is pretty cool.

Champion and challenger being honored at the Polish Consulate #ufc205 #ufc #workstuff @joannajedrzejczyk @karolinakowalkiewicz A photo posted by Thomas Gerbasi (@tgerbasi1) on Nov 10, 2016 at 8:34am PST

Shredded.

#mmacubano #Americantopteamkendall #ufc205 #soldierofgod #ready A photo posted by Yoel Romero (@yoelromeromma) on Nov 10, 2016 at 9:16am PST

Late night training session with the team. Saturday can't come quick enough. We Ready!! #HomeTeam #UFC205 #MSG @ealvarezfight A photo posted by Frankie Edgar (@frankieedgar) on Nov 9, 2016 at 8:26pm PST

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Irene Aldana (7-2) vs. Leslie Smith (8-7-1); UFC on Fox 22, December 17.

FINAL THOUGHTS

MMA conspiracy alert: Eddie was in on it and left the stage to set up Conor taking his belt and the promotional boost they might get from it. I base that on literally nothing.

It's almost there everyone. Make sure to watch Bellator tonight - very cool things happen in the main event - and enjoy the weekend.

Oh, and tomorrow will be the 22nd anniversary of UFC 1. How far we've come.

If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.