All articles tagged with #fighter pay
Sean O'Malley reacted to reports that Zuffa Boxing signed Conor Benn for a $15 million, one‑fight deal, saying he can’t believe such a payday exists and underscoring the pay gap between boxing stars and UFC fighters. He noted Benn’s fame, questioned the figure, and suggested the move could be driven by business or ego amid ongoing tensions between UFC/White and boxing figures.
Rampage Jackson advocates for increasing UFC Fight of the Night bonuses to $1 million following the UFC's $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount, with UFC president Dana White confirming bonuses will increase in 2026.
UFC's $7.7 billion deal with Paramount aims to boost fighter earnings, with promises of increased bonuses and fairer revenue sharing, though specific pay increases remain unspecified. UFC executives emphasize their commitment to paying top fighters well and compare their revenue sharing favorably to other sports leagues, while also highlighting the broader opportunities this deal may create for fighters and the sport's growth.
Dan Hooker criticized UFC policies in an interview, addressing issues like ticket denial, fighter pay, and matchmaking practices, sparking mixed reactions from fans.
Ahead of his UFC 302 fight against Paulo Costa, Sean Strickland criticized the UFC for inadequate fighter pay and not treating fighters fairly. Strickland, who lost his middleweight title to Dricus Du Plessis in January, expressed frustration over not getting a rematch and highlighted the disparity between UFC executives' earnings and fighters' pay. Despite his grievances, Strickland emphasized the importance of not tying one's self-worth to their job. He also downplayed Costa's skills, calling him a "very basic" fighter.
Frank Mir reflects on his fight with Brock Lesnar at UFC 100, realizing years later that he was drastically underpaid compared to the event's massive profits, with Mir making only $45,000 while Lesnar earned $400,000 before pay-per-view sales were factored in. Mir now questions the disparity in fighter pay, especially after seeing boxers like Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury make tens of millions from similar pay-per-view numbers. Despite feeling shortchanged, Mir acknowledges that fighters today are making more money than in the past, providing some comfort as his daughter pursues a fighting career.
Dana White, President of the UFC, dismisses claims made by the Professional Fighters League (PFL) that they pay fighters better, calling it "absolutely positively not true." White believes PFL's statements are either delusional or uninformed, except for the fact that a fighter's performance in the cage determines their future. Despite recent acquisitions and a $100 million investment agreement, White is not concerned about PFL overtaking the UFC as the top MMA entity, stating that many competitors have opened their checkbooks but ultimately waste money. White emphasizes that running a successful promotion is about more than just money.
A podcast episode of Hey Not the Face! compares the differences between UFC and PFL contracts, including the type of contracts, length of contract, contract extensions, champion's clause, exclusive negotiating and matching rights, details on pay, sponsors and merchandising, arbitration and class action, and fighter responsibilities. The episode also discusses changes to the new UFC contracts, including revisions to royalties and sponsorships, and fighters' rights.