The conversation around fighter pay will never get old. UFC often comes under scrutiny for not paying their fighters, what many might say, they are worth. This accusation against the UFC is not only from fans but also from fighters competing at the elite level in mixed martial arts. However, for Dana White, this narrative is spread by people who probably don’t like him or the UFC.
Speaking to Shannon Sharpe in an interview, UFC head honcho shared his thoughts on UFC fighter’s pay and opined how the American promotion is one of the best in business owing to its model which ensures that the money is spread out from top to bottom.
“There is a narrative from people that don’t like the UFC, don’t like me, or whatever it might be and these guys don’t know what these guys really make. And the other thing is the money is spread out from top to bottom. We have guys who would be considered journeymen in boxing who made millions of dollars.” White said.
Dana White‘s statement, though true, doesn’t reflect the real nature of the UFC, which relies heavily on making fighters sign a long contract to limit their earnings over a period of time and doesn’t necessarily give PPV points to every fighter headlining the UFC PPV if they are not a Champion of their division.
While it might pay the undercard substantially well when compared to boxing, the promotion fails to provide a good payday to its headliners.
Dana White has continued to divert the discussion around UFC fighter pay
As White suggested, the narrative around fighter pay is from people who don’t like the UFC. However, history suggests otherwise. Call for a better pay has come from some of the top names in the UFC including consensus GOAT Jon Jones, insanely popular Jorge Masvidal, and former Champions like Dustin Poirier, Henry Cejudo, and Demetrious Johnson.
UFC has almost become a monopoly in the world of mixed martial arts, and while several fighters who have gone on to leave UFC and have made big bucks with other promotions including the PFL and BKFC, the kind of visibility and exposure that the UFC provides is next to none.
Hence, it’s no surprise whenever the topic of fighter pay pops up, Dana White would rather ask his fighters to leave and try elsewhere than address the issue.
“Professional sports isn’t a job, it’s an opportunity. You are given an opportunity, you were good enough to get an opportunity where you could go out in a very short period of time and make as much money as your could possibly make.” White said.
Even the athlete understands the exposure UFC brings for them even if the pay is lower than what other promotions might be willing to offer.
This resonates with White’s statement that professional sports is not a profession but an opportunity. Meaning, UFC fighters should just be happy that the UFC is providing an opportunity to these fighters.
Monetary compensation is an added bonus. However, if this is indeed an opportunity and the sporting career can come to an end on any given day, why wouldn’t the fighters look to earn the most amount of money? Moreover, UFC also holds fighters under the contract seizing them of any opportunity outside of the UFC. Needless to say, this is an absurd statement and proves that Dana White will go to any lengths to justify his stance on fighter pay.