All articles tagged with #fighter pay
Joe Rogan criticized the UFC’s pay structure, calling the win-based bonuses the worst part of the system and arguing fighters should receive a guaranteed, higher base pay regardless of fight outcomes, since judging, officiating, injuries, and other factors can affect earnings.
Nurmagomedov defended the lightweight title with a first‑round KO of Archie Colgan at PFL New York, ending his PFL contract and launching him into free agency as MMA’s hottest available talent. He said his next move will depend on money and input from his team, noting that his late father Abdulmanap’s “legacy” plan is guiding him but won’t pay the bills. With the MVP–PFL merger in play and Jake Paul in attendance, Nurmagomedov kept the door open to future destinations, including the UFC, as he weighs options with his family and team.
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland blasted the promotion’s pay as predatory, criticizing low show/win money, a roughly 20 percent revenue split, and Sean Shelby’s scheduling tactics—benching fighters and pressuring short-notice bouts—while noting UFC offers opportunity but urging others not to join.
UFC President Dana White dismissed comparisons between fighter pay and the WNBA’s $270,000 minimum, arguing UFC contracts are designed to test newcomers before big guarantees while promising ongoing earnings growth under a new seven-year Paramount deal, with boosted post-fight bonuses (up to $100,000) that aim to broaden pay for more fighters, even as some fighters say changes have been slow since the deal began.
Ronda Rousey says her comeback bout with Gina Carano will set a new pay record for women in combat sports, as MVP’s Netflix-backed event aims to shift bargaining power away from the UFC and features a star-studded card.
Matt Brown argues that the UFC isn’t at a breaking point over fighter pay despite star grievances (Jon Jones, Ronda Rousey) and high-profile pay disputes; while Netflix-backed events and MVP signings like Diaz’s deal complicate the landscape, the UFC remains the dominant promotion with exclusive contracts, and Brown suggests only a major legal/market shake-up could truly threaten its position.
Danny Silva stunned Kurtis Campbell with a second-round KO at UFC London and then revealed he’s broke, saying he can’t afford future training camps, reigniting criticism of fighter pay and calls for Dana White to pay unranked fighters more fairly.
Jon Jones says he was negotiating to fight on the UFC’s White House card but was offered only about $15 million, far below the roughly $30 million reportedly offered to face Tom Aspinall. Dana White had claimed Jones wasn’t seriously considered for the event, and Jones even asked for his release after the dispute. The White House card ultimately wasn’t Jones’s fight, instead Pereira faced Ciryl Gane for an interim heavyweight title.
Eddie Hearn, representing UFC heavyweight champ, blasted Tom Aspinall's UFC contract as a 'disgrace' and criticized pay levels as Aspinall prepares to return from a first‑round no‑contest with Ciryl Gane; he questioned why Aspinall would stay with a deal that under-mines potential rematches with Gane or Pereira, noting taxes and team costs erode earnings.
Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman say UFC fighter pay is too low and should be shared more fairly across the roster, potentially via coordinated action by fighters and managers, in light of the seven-year, $7.7 billion Paramount broadcasting deal that spotlighted pay disparities.
Sean O’Malley says Conor McGregor, Jon Jones and Ronda Rousey have legitimate pay concerns but fighters should recognize the platform the UFC provides; he questions how they'd fare outside the promotion, notes Covington’s criticisms, and highlights his own June 14 White House lineup bout against Aiemann Zahabi, joking that he’d likely make more money outside the UFC.
Colby Covington accuses the UFC of trying to ice him out after being left off major cards and offered no high‑level fights, blaming Hunter Campbell for a lack of opportunities and arguing the promotion prioritizes cheaper opponents despite his drawing power. He says he wants to pay his bills and that the UFC’s purported post‑fight plans never materialized. Sources note Covington reportedly turned down a 2024 fight with Ian Garry and has avoided certain Florida cards due to opponent selection and pay, highlighting broader questions about fighter pay and roster management.
Ronda Rousey attacked UFC fighters’ pay and cited Valentina Shevchenko’s OnlyFans, prompting Shevchenko to fire back on social media that using OnlyFans is a modern way to connect with fans and noting her status as UFC champion; the exchange comes as Rousey promotes a May 16 bout with Gina Carano.
Ronda Rousey used a Netflix press event for her fight with Gina Carano to rail against UFC fighter pay, arguing many fighters, even top ones, live at poverty level despite the company’s huge earnings (about $7.7 billion); the piece also notes Jon Jones’ request to be released from his UFC contract amid a dispute and Dana White’s claim that Jones wasn’t in contention for the UFC White House card due to arthritis.
Max Holloway urged UFC fighters to band together to push for higher pay, arguing that individual bargaining leads to undercuts that hurt everyone. He cited Jon Jones' $30 million demand for a Ngannou fight and Derrick Lewis's lower counteroffer as examples of how rivalries and price-sniping can drag down the whole roster, stressing fighters must know their worth and stand with peers who push for fair compensation.