That's largely explained by legislation, unions, and higher revenue shares. The UFC only gives ~16% of yearly revenue as fighter pay (and USADA pay is included in fighter pay). MLB is closer to 50/50. Granted it's a bigger organization with more revenue, but the disparity should not be as big as it is.
Starting Strength Indianapolis is up and running. Sign up for a free 30-minute coaching session.
I answer all my emails: ALewis@StartingStrengthGyms.com
For Alex: How do you feel about how the UFC and especially Dana White treated Cyborg? I had dinner with someone a few months ago who knows her said she was treated very poorly. Until then I had admired Dana White for having built the organization.
Yes. UFC fighters are severely underpaid. And the biggest stars are the most underpaid relative to their value.
Not very happy with it. She's not in the organization anymore for a reason. He's kind of always been a scumbag, even to his own fighters, so it's nothing new. Someone in her team released some doctored footage to try and make Dana look bad, so she lost that PR battle. Both Dana and people like Joe Rogan treated her like shit, no fake footage needed. Saying she looked like a man, etc. She's in Bellator now and I'm assuming she's getting paid more, too. But it's a less competitive organization with not even close to the same amount of eyes.
Henry Cejudo, 125 and 135 champ just retired (citing money). Jon Jones, 205 champ, is sitting out because he's not getting enough money. Jorge Masvidal, who sold out MSG last year, is also not fighting because of money. Conor McGregor's sitting out. Amanda Nunes (female 135 and 145 champ) hinted at retirement, too. If you google "UFC Anti-Trust lawsuit" and read up about it, you'll see how poorly they treat the fighters.
Who the fuck watches baseball? Honestly. Gen X, white American here. I havent watched a baseball game in decades. By contrast, I really enjoy the UFC fights, even though Im ignorant of the skills/stragey. Its just entertaining. How the fuck does baseball even make money?????
Its not a real pro-sport
There's little money to be had, and little interest it to begin with ... if there were, something something free market something.
and these problems would fix themselves
Thanks for the insight. The excuse I heard about not paying more is that there is no gate right now -- but that does not explain the situation before the shutdown. Since the sale and 25th anniversary promotion, it looks like Dana White's reputation (at least for the public) is being burnished. What I cannot understand is why boxers get paid so much in comparison. I don't think the people who run boxing have more integrity. Is boxing that much more popular? I find it boring in comparison to MMA.
It's hilarious that Dana uses this excuse. The fighters never got any money out of the gate in the first place. He's always been a liar but people assumed it was mostly for the fighters' collective interest. Fans and fighters alike are finally turning on him, at least in this area.
Boxers get paid so much more because of unions and legislation (see Ali act). The class action lawsuit against the UFC and other promoters points out the same problems that the Ali act fixed. For example, Deontay Wilder got ~$28 million to fight Fury the 2nd time and Jon Jones got ~$500k for his last fight. This is despite the fact that Jon sells more pay-per-views more consistently and more often than Wilder ever has.