Tim Kennedy: "It's a good thing I have a job because the UFC does not pay very well"

[straight6]

My hats off to you Mr. Tim Kennedy, we've had a few other fighters come out of the wood work lately and echo similar sentiments. The more fighters who start to stand up and discuss these kinds of things the better. It will be the only way for change to occur.

For the amount of dedication and sacrifice these fighters make leading up to and during a bout, the pain and risks associated etc. They deserve much more than the short end of the stick they're currently getting.

A career in combat sports can lead to very ugly things later in life. Pugilistic dementia is very serious and who is there to support these fighters once their career's are over but the effects from that career remain? They accumulate over time and lead to a host of problems in life. These fighters need to unionize, they need better representation across the board.

Very true..the sooner the better for the L-T development of the sport/industry and the well being of the athletes/fighters.

 

[CC27]

These guys want to be compensated like other fighters, such as Anderson and GSP.
It's not fair to pay Andy and GSP so much and pay other fighters so little.

? Wait you think Tim Kennedy should make what GSP makes?

Then why isnt every other boxer in the sport making what Floyd and Manny make? Oh yeah, cause being the best and being a draw gets you big money.

So the guy riding the bench in the NBA should get what Lebron makes? Thats absolutely the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

You want to say mid/lower end guys should get more thats cool but suggesting they should be compensated like GSP/Anderson,

 

[ZappBrannigan]

Dana ^

 

[Hester65]

13% of gym fees when you're buying 3% equipment fees? Why the hell would be a part of a gym that can't meet all your equipment needs? Your manager and coach should only receive 10% of the show money, too. If you win and get that win bump, that shouldn't be split with anyone. I also don't get the camp lodging when you pay so much in the gym fee. Managers are pointless in mma if you're fighting under a single promotion. If you have to have a manager, get a guy that with the 10-15% he makes takes care of and pays for all the other expenses of the camp.

What about his sponcerships or endorsements? What is he getting there and how is he splitting that?

The only thing he couldn't get around paying are taxes and medicals. It seems to me people are making alot of coin off of his fights, and he needs to do a better job of managing his choices.

Outside of that, I do think all fighters should continue to see raises in pay and those raises should be happening much faster than they are. Even fighters on the lowest of runges should be making a minimum of 10k. Kennedy is probably a 3 figure fighter. If his manager can't get him 3 figures, he needs to find a manager that doesn't take 10%. There are much better ways to go about taking a stand for fighter pay than exposing your own flawed management system...

 

[DoUEvenLiftBro]

I think the UFC needs to be a little more socialist. Pay the lower fighters more at the expense of the top dollar guys. Anderson Silva is making millions. Hell, Michael Bisping is making millions a year. They don't need to be paying them that much. The UFC organization is bigger than the individuals in it.

 

[Sosua]

It would be nice to see ufc cover some of their fight camp expenses, but at the same time if he doesn't like the pay he could go fight for another mma promotion who would pay him more

Not when his fight camp expenses are so over the top - 13% of a $55-70k purse on nutrition?

 

[Gervinho]

The UFC needs Roger Federer type of character. A true champion who says he will fight for smaller fighters getting better pay. Can you imagine a UFC champion say something like that?

 

[Haruspex]

You have choices in life.

1) Fight for money.
2) Fight for money and do work on the side.
3) Focus on work only.

Pick one. Stop complaining about the choice you've made.

couldn't agree more.

 

[xkillerbx]

These guys want to be compensated like other fighters, such as Anderson and GSP.
It's not fair to pay Andy and GSP so much and pay other fighters so little.

Other fighters don't bring in the same amount of money for the UFC as GSP and Silva. Why should they be paid like those guys do?

 

[Mumrik]

12% for nutrition

Is that food?
Everybody has to buy food. If it isn't food - what the hell is he buying for that kind of money?

 

[straight6]

I have to agree with him. With the amount of time this sport demands towards training, it's a joke compared to all other sports. You can sit on the damn bench and make Anderson Silva money.

Serious...sad, but true.

 

[Sosua]

The UFC seems to have a small army of online persona's which push their agenda/propaganda at online forums just like this one. The more people who start to see these schills for what they are the better imo.

The fighters are currently drastically under paid and all too often signed into one sided, unfair contracts and summarily dismissed like used napkins after Zuffa is done with them.

Whatever mate, not everyone

 

[iloveufc123]

Jon Fitch agrees.

 

[natman589]

has any other fighter ever given such a detailed breakdown of where their fight money goes?

 

[Haruspex]

I think the UFC needs to be a little more socialist. Pay the lower fighters more at the expense of the top dollar guys. Anderson Silva is making millions. Hell, Michael Bisping is making millions a year. They don't need to be paying them that much. The UFC organization is bigger than the individuals in it.

This is a terrible idea.

 

[wwedanawhite]

Is that food?
Everybody has to buy food. If it isn't food - what the hell is he buying for that kind of money?

yeah i'm confused as well, spending thousands upon thousand for a nutritionist is what i assume he's saying... seems rather silly to me, someone to help you diet is great for both knowledge and motivation but is it really a must for him?

 

[Based God]

maybe he needs to negotiate better deals with his team!

Exactly, looks like his team is raping him of everything.

LOL @ 12% on nutrition, are you fucking joking? Maybe he should complain about his retarded deals with his coaching staff and not what the UFC gives him.

 

[benjaminbuttons]

nutrition lol surprised he didnt throw his mortgage in there as a percentage

 

[D3thr0n3d K1ng]

Im glad more of these fighters are coming out and exposing how the UFC is shafting them.

 

[Sosua]

The UFC seems to have a small army of online persona's which push their agenda/propaganda at online forums just like this one. The more people who start to see these schills for what they are the better imo.

The fighters are currently drastically under paid and all too often signed into one sided, unfair contracts and summarily dismissed like used napkins after Zuffa is done with them.

Actually bro, some of us just live in the real world and don't feel mid tier people who choose to follow their dream and fight for money have a god given right to willingly sign a contract for $55-70k for a fight then overinflated their taxes and expenses (which EVERYONE pays) and bitch about it publicly.

You get paid what you are worth, manage your expenses accordingly.