Entrepreneur and 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang poses for a portrait after a campaign stop at the train depot on February 1, 2019 in Jefferson, Iowa. (Photo by Joshua Lott / AFP) (Photo credit should read JOSHUA LOTT/AFP/Getty Images)

2020 Presidential candidate Andrew Yang took to Twitter to express his thoughts on the current stats of the UFC fighters and how much they are paid compared to other professional sports.

Ahead of the upcoming Presidential election in 2020 democratic candidate, Andrew Yang, took to Twitter to express his views on pay in the sports industry, particularly in the UFC. According to a series of tweets, Yang believes that UFC fighters are greatly underpaid compared to other professional athletes. Yang also shared his thoughts on a potential union for UFC fighters so that their pay is regulated and negotiated fairly.

“MMA fighters in the UFC receive only 10-15 [percent] of revenues vs. 50 [percent] in other sports. I would apply the Ali Act to MMA and allow fighters to unionize. Firing [Leslie Smith] when her opponent didn’t make weight was clearly retaliatory. [Dana White] should stop boasting about revenue,” Yang wrote.

MMA fighters in the UFC receive only 10-15% of revenues vs. ~50% in other sports. I would apply the Ali Act to MMA and allow fighters to unionize. Firing @LeslieSmith_GF when her opponent didn’t make weight was clearly retaliatory. @danawhite should stop boasting about revenue. — Andrew Yang (@AndrewYangVFA) March 10, 2019

Smith was a former UFC women’s bantamweight fighter who fought for the UFC from 2014-2017 and had her contract recently bought out by the UFC last April. Smith was a controversial figure in the UFC as she is currently the President of Project Spearhead and has been very outspoken regarding fighter unionization.

Former UFC middleweight contender Nate Quarry also responded to Yang’s take on a potential UFC union.

“A union would cement one organization at the top,” Quarry wrote. “We need an association that gives benefits to all fighters and allows them to compete on an open market. The Ali Expansion Act that we’ve gone to DC to support would be the biggest tool to help us gain independence.”

A union would cement one organization at the top. We need an association that gives benefits to all fighters and allows them to compete on an open market.

The Ali Expansion Act that we’ve gone to DC to support would be the biggest tool to help us gain independence. — Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) March 10, 2019

Yang replied to Quarry’s response letting him know that if he takes office in 2020 he will make sure fighter’s independence is on his agenda.

Thanks Nate. Will gladly sign that into law in 2021. — Andrew Yang (@AndrewYangVFA) March 10, 2019

Thank you, sir 😊

We were set for a vote and then… Dana’s buddy squashed our bill.

And I believe we had over 60 signers too. — Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) March 10, 2019

Yang responded to Quarry one last time, putting the President of United States, White, and other celebrity investors in WME IMG, the parent organization of the UFC on notice of his planned actions if he were to take office.

Thanks Nate. @realDonaldTrump won’t be in office to cover for Dana forever. Open question whether @ConanOBrien @serenawilliams @adamlevine @BenAffleck realize that @WME dragged them into an investment that relies on Dana firing @LeslieSmith_GF and Trump squashing fighter rights — Andrew Yang (@AndrewYangVFA) March 10, 2019

Yang’s recent interest in the UFC and fighter’s pay will hopefully lead to more open discussion about the topic. It is long debated and discussed whether UFC fighters are employees or independent contractors, with the establishment of a union in the sport it will clear the air and allow fighters to make more money and have the sport prosper in the long-run.