Dana White insists he will never cave to public pressure when it comes to improving pay and conditions for fighters in the UFC.
The MMA boss has found himself in hot water in recent years and has been accused of mistreating fighters who help his UFC business succeed.
In 2022, fighter compensation is around 19-20% according to Forbes, which says that number has been consistent for 11 years in MMA’s premier promotion.
British UFC star Paddy Pimblett shocked fight fans earlier this year when he revealed his salary was just £9,000, before performance bonuses.
However, this is not uncommon as the base salary for a UFC athlete is £9,000 to show and £9,000 to earn and that is something that does not sit well with a lot of people.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has been more vocal than most on the issue of UFC fighter pay and expressed his belief that everyone on the roster should earn a minimum of $50,000 (£41,000) per fight, getting 50% of the profits from the UFC, and long-term healthcare from the company.
White says the UFC fighter compensation model will never change while he’s here because it’s fair and keeps the sport he helped build from being corrupted by greed.
“Listen, there’s not too much you can talk about the UFC, if you look at what we’ve done with the company over the last 22 years, it’s amazing, never done, never” , he told GQ Sports.
“The things we’ve done in the fight business, you always have to give a fuck, I guess.
“Fighters always want to make more money. Boxing has been completely destroyed because of money and everything that’s going on in it.
“That will never happen while I’m here. Believe me, these guys get paid what they’re supposed to get paid, they eat what they kill.
White may have to rethink his fighter pay position in the near future, with several of his big stars looking outside the UFC for big paydays.
Nate Diaz is expected to leave the company following his fight against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 279 next month.
MMA icon is excited about the prospect of exploring what promises to be a lucrative free agency market and possible fight with ‘The Problem Child’
Meanwhile, UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou could soon leave the company after it was revealed his contract, worth $600,000 (£495,000) per fight, has expired .
‘The Predator’ insists he will only re-sign with the UFC if they allow him to take mega-money boxing bouts with Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder.
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