Dana White is not too involved in regards to the difficulty of fighter pay, however he positively would not need to hear about UFC fighters making lower than WNBA gamers.
As a part of the current collective bargaining settlement reached with the league, WNBA gamers are actually assured no less than $270,000 yearly, a big improve from the earlier minimal of $66,000. The UFC, however, has many fighters on promotional rosters who’re paid $12,000 for a combat and one other $12,000 for a win.
Sometimes, UFC contracts are normal contracts that improve with every combat, however a fighter whose wage will increase from $12,000 to $14,000 after which $16,000 for 3 fights is just assured at most $84,000 for the yr. However White scoffs at the concept the UFC ought to assure a minimal wage to rookies who’ve but to show they’ll be part of the promotion within the first place.
“Fighters’ salaries have gone up yearly and can proceed to go up so long as we proceed to achieve success,” White stated. Rolling Stone journal. “However evaluating it to the WNBA is ridiculous.
“To begin with, when you come into the UFC, for example you signal a three-fight contract, we’ll discover out when you’re within the UFC. Ought to I pay you $370,000 to seek out out when you’re within the UFC?”
White has repeatedly said that fighters’ salaries will improve in 2026, the yr the UFC’s new seven-year, $7.7 billion contract with Paramount begins.
Some fighters have already complained that not a lot has modified because the broadcast deal started, whereas others have praised the UFC for providing new bonuses, together with the usual $25,000 payout for finishes. The UFC additionally elevated post-fight bonuses for Efficiency of the Night time and Struggle of the Night time from $50,000 to $100,000.
Whereas ending bonuses are assured by knockout or submission, different post-fight bonuses are elective, with UFC executives in the end selecting who receives these awards.
Jake Paul’s Most Invaluable Promotions lately staged its first MMA card to air on Netflix, however the minimal wage for the occasion was $40,000, paid as a flat charge with out the usual present/win mannequin. It appears unlikely that the UFC will undertake an analogous technique sooner or later, particularly relating to minimal salaries for fighters new to the group.
“(The minimal) has gone up,” White stated of the UFC. “The query is, how a lot do you pay somebody to see in the event that they’re ok to be there? What we have constructed, what we have executed has been very profitable, the fighters are making some huge cash within the UFC, there is a center class within the UFC.
“So clearly the highest two guys on the boxing card are making all the cash and the remainder of the fellows on the cardboard aren’t making any cash. Identical to within the UFC, everyone seems to be creating wealth. And I’ve about 1,000 fighters beneath contract, in order that they should combat 3 times a yr. , they know precisely how a lot they receives a commission. And the opposite reality is that even within the days since 2001 after we had been shedding tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars}, each fighter who fought for us was getting paid greater than that.” ”
