WME-IMG invites entire roster to 'UFC Athlete Retreat'

It's time for the UFC brass to make nice with its fighters.

In the wake of verbal discontent from some of the promotion's biggest stars including MMA legend Anderson Silva, UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson, and fan favorites Nate and Nick Diaz, WME-IMG officials invited the entire current roster to a meeting at the new offices in Las Vegas this weekend for a "2017 UFC Athlete Retreat," MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani reported Wednesday.

The UFC will cover travel costs, and fighters with conflicting engagements are exempt from the proceedings.

"This event represents a unique opportunity for you to interact with your fellow athletes, UFC staff, and your new ownership group, while hearing from a wide variety of experts across sports, entertainment and business," officials wrote in an e-mail to fighters, according to Helwani.

WME-IMG co-CEOs Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell will have their hands full this weekend if the complaints coming from the top stars are indicative of more widespread unrest among the hundreds of UFC fighters signed to the promotion. This will be their first opportunity to engage with the majority of the roster since purchasing the UFC last July.