Why Are UFC Fighters So Underpaid?

**clean** · 01-01-2007 12:33 AM

I just read that Chuck Liddell is only expected to make over $1 million after last nights ppv blockbuster, which they are speculating did over 1 million ppv buys. I'm not a huge UFC fan but Liddell deserves at least 10 times that amount.

**landmine950** · 01-02-2007 09:57 AM

because the ufc is a buisness.
Its a company that OWNES all of its fighters under contract
Its not an open contest like boxing or other sports.
They decide who fights who and when and offer people money based on that not on who is the best etc. Maybe in teh future there will be more independent MMa belts available.

**the phenom** · 01-05-2007 02:26 AM

mike tyson makes more than matt hughes doing exhibitions

**Heavy D** · 01-07-2007 07:44 AM

Boxing has been around a wee bit longer than MMA.

Just think of it this way...if the UFC hadn't underpaid before now (which apparently, from what I've been reading, has changed drastically in the last few events. They apparently pay better now than Pride, which is a big surprise to me. And this is coming from the president of Pride fighting), they wouldnt be able to afford Cro Cop, Rampage and Herring, in addition to the rest of the WFA. If they had tried to do this sooner, they'd wind up just like the WFA (bankrupt and bought out by a bigger company).

I was always pissed at how much they paid, but kudos to Dana and crew for being far better businessmen than I and establishing the UFC as the new dominant force in MMA, and perhaps even in sports in general.

**moonlight19** · 01-10-2007 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by landmine950

because the ufc is a buisness.
Its a company that OWNES all of its fighters under contract
Its not an open contest like boxing or other sports.
They decide who fights who and when and offer people money based on that not on who is the best etc. Maybe in teh future there will be more independent MMa belts available.

yeah - then we could have all the alphabet champions that could all avoid eachother and fail to make compelling fights for the fans. That'd be awesome

The reason the UFC has blown up like it has is the managing of the entire sport as a product rather than the individual "stars". Dana White and the owners of the UFC have the formula and are working it extremely well. The money is getting better and that trend is only going to continue.