Overview
- This Tuesday Dana White told Rolling Stone that fighter pay has risen over time and that the UFC will not start by paying large guaranteed sums to unproven newcomers.
- White said typical first UFC deals from Contender Series pay roughly $10,000 to show and $10,000 to win and asked rhetorically whether the promotion should pay six-figure guarantees to see if a fighter belongs.
- The comments followed reporting on a reported seven-year, $7.7 billion Paramount-CBS media deal that has intensified public scrutiny of how UFC revenue is shared.
- UFC has boosted post-fight bonuses, including larger Fight/Performance awards and a finish bonus, but fighters and rival promoters argue that higher guaranteed base pay is still needed.
- The dispute could reshape where new talent signs because competitors such as MVP MMA and celebrity-backed events are offering larger minimums while many UFC newcomers struggle to cover taxes, management and training costs.