Assemblymember Matt Haney from San Francisco just introduced a bill that could fundamentally change how boxers and MMA fighters get compensated, and honestly, it’s about time. Assembly Bill 2130 aims to create a stable funding source for California’s Professional Boxers’ Pension Fund, which was expanded in 2023 to include MMA fighters.

Here’s the thing: California’s had this pension fund since 1982, making it literally the only state-sponsored pension fund for combat sports athletes in the entire world. But here’s the problem, it’s been running on fumes, relying mostly on event fees to keep the lights on. That’s not exactly a reliable way to ensure fighters get the support they’ve earned.

The new bill proposes something clever: sponsors would pay for space on patches on referee uniforms and official apparel during events. Three-quarters of that sponsorship money would go directly to the pension fund, while the remaining quarter would fund referee training and the State Athletic Commission. It’s basically redirecting money that’s already being made off these events straight to the people who actually make those events possible.

The bill would also provide one-time payments to fighters who retired before the fund’s eligibility requirements were formally established, essentially making things right for those who got left behind.

Ronda Rousey, the legendary UFC fighter and WWE wrestler, is backing this hard. She pointed out something that’s impossible to ignore: “Fighters put everything on the line every time they step into a fight, and this sport made billions off the athletes willing to sacrifice everything for it”. She’s not wrong. The combat sports industry generates massive revenue while many fighters struggle financially after their careers end.

Haney echoed that sentiment, saying fighters deserve to share in the value they create. “Every ticket sold, every sponsorship, every broadcast exists because they put everything on the line”, he stated. “When they step out of the ring for the last time, they deserve the security of knowing their sacrifice will be met with long-term support”.

And it’s worth noting that this isn’t just about fairness, there’s genuine health concerns at stake. Research published in 2014 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that combat sports can lead to loss of brain volume and slower cognitive speeds. More recent studies from 2025 have echoed similar findings. Fighters literally risk their brains every time they compete, so having long-term financial security isn’t a luxury, it’s basic protection.

Andy Foster, executive officer of the California State Athletic Commission, called this “the biggest piece of legislation for retired fighters in the history of boxing and mixed martial arts”. The bill will be heard in committee in the coming weeks, so there’s still a chance for this to actually become law.

This is the kind of policy that makes you realize how overdue it is for athletes in dangerous sports to actually benefit from the industries they build.