Fighter pay increase. Why?

[Johnny_Knuckles]

So there has been another thread recently where it was stated how fighters are getting even less pay than in previous year in terms of pay to revenue (or pay to profits). It has caused yet another outburst of criticism of how bad and stingy UFC is and caused more calls for them to address the issue.

But I haven't really seen opinions and arguments on what benefits it gives to the actual fight game. So what are they? How is this going to benefit the fight game and MMA in general if UFC raises the fighter pay? Surely as a person I would be happy for someone getting paid even more for doing a legal and fair work, but as for MMA fan, what would be the interest?

Will the quality of fights become better? Or fighters will become more cautious, afraid to lose, and losing the win bonus? Will the fights become more frequent, especially between elites and championship ones become more frequent? Looking at boxing, it might not be the case .. People are criticizing lack of motion and championship fights in certain divisions already, as is ..

Will it draw better talent to the MMA? How can we be sure? A lot of fans have an opinion that stars of the past were better than the current ones when the pay wasn't anywhere close to the current numbers..

An argument I saw was that Bellator pays around 50% of revenue to fighters .. So what? They still pay less in actual numbers .. This ratio is only a testament that they are inferior as a promotion and as a business to the UFC. How should that press UFC to pay more, if they are paying more than anyone else already (in general)?

Isn't that the lack of demand in general that is problem and had it not been the case, the other promotions would have been able to pay more, and in turn force the UFC to pay more? But right now it is the UFC that is the main driver in the industry and generates new viewers so they might deserve what they are earning (I don't know anyone who first starting watching Bellator, One, PFL, before starting to watch UFC).

Anyways, what could be the objective benefits for us, MMA fans, if UFC raises fighter pay? So far from what I've seen the motive is "because screw Dana and his snow covered driveway" ..

Bellend

 

[World eater]

In many countries of the world UFC pay would be considered astronomical. Many countries have free health care.
Bigger pay would draw more talent from first world countries. Simple as that.

 

[smiles mma]

No but soccer kicks, head stomps, and letting the fighters wear their own sponsored gear with their personal sponsor logos attached would. Oh ya also the sponsor banner hanging from the cage during the prefight and less cards. The UFC is shooting themselves in their own foot now.

Did you miss the party that revenue is up?

 

[Tweak896]

Honestly maybe getting rid of USADA would bring back better athletes than raising pay ever would. We've seen in boxing how more money to top guys leads to constant negotiations and stalling. I was fine with mma 10 years ago, seemed like all the good fighters were pre USADA and they were paid even less. When Conor opened the flood gates and guys started getting paid more, I never saw an increase in quality of fighters in UFC. I've seen more guys sit around and renegotiate just like boxing. I'm going to stop being a fan when it turns into boxing match making where guys only fight cans unless they get a giant contract.

 

[Kompromat]

Bellend

Whats so wrong with my question? We are exploring ways how it could benefit (or not) the MMA here

 

[jimmy dakine]

So there has been another thread recently where it was stated how fighters are getting even less pay than in previous year in terms of pay to revenue (or pay to profits). It has caused yet another outburst of criticism of how bad and stingy UFC is and caused more calls for them to address the issue.

But I haven't really seen opinions and arguments on what benefits it gives to the actual fight game. So what are they? How is this going to benefit the fight game and MMA in general if UFC raises the fighter pay? Surely as a person I would be happy for someone getting paid even more for doing a legal and fair work, but as for MMA fan, what would be the interest?

Will the quality of fights become better? Or fighters will become more cautious, afraid to lose, and losing the win bonus? Will the fights become more frequent, especially between elites and championship ones become more frequent? Looking at boxing, it might not be the case .. People are criticizing lack of motion and championship fights in certain divisions already, as is ..

Will it draw better talent to the MMA? How can we be sure? A lot of fans have an opinion that stars of the past were better than the current ones when the pay wasn't anywhere close to the current numbers..

An argument I saw was that Bellator pays around 50% of revenue to fighters .. So what? They still pay less in actual numbers .. This ratio is only a testament that they are inferior as a promotion and as a business to the UFC. How should that press UFC to pay more, if they are paying more than anyone else already (in general)?

Isn't that the lack of demand in general that is problem and had it not been the case, the other promotions would have been able to pay more, and in turn force the UFC to pay more? But right now it is the UFC that is the main driver in the industry and generates new viewers so they might deserve what they are earning (I don't know anyone who first starting watching Bellator, One, PFL, before starting to watch UFC).

Anyways, what could be the objective benefits for us, MMA fans, if UFC raises fighter pay? So far from what I've seen the motive is "because screw Dana and his snow covered driveway" ..

There is no connection between a fighters pay and how I benefit. So the thread is a clusterfuck. I dont benefit if the fighters got paid zero and I dont benefit if the got ALL the money. The issue has always been that the fighters are the "product", and the owners are not. The ones that do the least seem to always want the most. Without one, the other doesnt exist...its called a stalemate. Since one cannot exist without the other, the benefit must be discussed equitably and currently its not equitable.

 

[loptyjoe]

No one forced these fighters to sign the contracts. Stop worrying about other people's lives and worry about your own

 

[jx820]

There is little to no benefit for the fans. The entire discussion is one of Labor solidarity. There are people who recognize disproportionate sacrifice to reward and they are offended by it.There are others for whom it's just performative because they don't like the UFC or they don't like Dana or they're just a contrarian person.

I think there's a preponderance of evidence in the UFC archives that a fighter making 90,000 doesn't necessarily fight any harder, or entertain any better than a fighter making 30,000.

 

[lepsahekim]

Because they’re pathetic clowns and always super vocal, slurping up daddy Dana in every thread.

“How dare these athletes dare ask to be paid a manageable and fair wage and cut slightly into record profits!?”

Socialism’s finest shill right here.

 

[markantony20]

Shut the fuck up dude. Jesus Christ.

 

[EYEKICKFACES]

Well it's pretty basic. I don't know a single person who makes the same pay every year. Due to inflation, your salary should go up or you should leave your job. So the benefit to MMA would be keeping guys actually wanting to pursue MMA as a "career" and keep new blood interested in participating.

 

[RonDante]

So there has been another thread recently where it was stated how fighters are getting even less pay than in previous year in terms of pay to revenue (or pay to profits). It has caused yet another outburst of criticism of how bad and stingy UFC is and caused more calls for them to address the issue.

But I haven't really seen opinions and arguments on what benefits it gives to the actual fight game. So what are they? How is this going to benefit the fight game and MMA in general if UFC raises the fighter pay? Surely as a person I would be happy for someone getting paid even more for doing a legal and fair work, but as for MMA fan, what would be the interest?

Will the quality of fights become better? Or fighters will become more cautious, afraid to lose, and losing the win bonus? Will the fights become more frequent, especially between elites and championship ones become more frequent? Looking at boxing, it might not be the case .. People are criticizing lack of motion and championship fights in certain divisions already, as is ..

Will it draw better talent to the MMA? How can we be sure? A lot of fans have an opinion that stars of the past were better than the current ones when the pay wasn't anywhere close to the current numbers..

An argument I saw was that Bellator pays around 50% of revenue to fighters .. So what? They still pay less in actual numbers .. This ratio is only a testament that they are inferior as a promotion and as a business to the UFC. How should that press UFC to pay more, if they are paying more than anyone else already (in general)?

Isn't that the lack of demand in general that is problem and had it not been the case, the other promotions would have been able to pay more, and in turn force the UFC to pay more? But right now it is the UFC that is the main driver in the industry and generates new viewers so they might deserve what they are earning (I don't know anyone who first starting watching Bellator, One, PFL, before starting to watch UFC).

Anyways, what could be the objective benefits for us, MMA fans, if UFC raises fighter pay? So far from what I've seen the motive is "because screw Dana and his snow covered driveway" ..

If fighters got paid more they might be more conservative in fights cause they’re already getting good pay, but it might also encourage them to go balls to the wall cause it’s like, say for example it goes to 50 and 50 plus a performance bonus of say 70, then a low level fighter might think “if I put on a great performance I could be walking away with almost 200k, I’ll get more recognition for my exciting fighting style” and so on and so forth

 

[MMAProfessional]

None of these asswipes give a shit about what fighters are paid. Where's the outrage about non UFC fighter pay?

It's virtue signalling.

I'd like them to get paid more by why care when they don't care themselves? Ngnannou is the only one to stand up. Israel complained for a week then accepted a new contract and got silent. Masvidal spoke up after literally agreeing to a new deal then complains about money.

 

[The Judo Champ]

If fighters are paid more then more top athletes will consider it as a career, you won’t see as many good fighters quoting early in their careers to pursue other jobs.

if pay is increased fighters can also afford to train better so hopefully the overall skill of the fighters is increased.

however being punched in the head for a living is a tough job. It’s also been shown that once a fighter makes big money they’re a lot less likely to fight. Masvidal, Dustin P, Conor, Francis, the Diaz bros etc all went from being very active fighters to almost never fighting. You also have fighters who clearly don’t train as hard once they make it big like BJ Penn, Conor etc.

so pay them better but don’t pay them millions unless they’re a massive draw

 

[Bearknuckle]

Theory: its actually figbters who are making sherdog accounts and constantly whining about fighter pay.

 

[VonSupervillain]

People say fighter pay should be increased and yet they also say fighters are too inactive. Increased fighter pay is going to lead to further inactivity, especially from the stars who are already fighting about once or twice a year. I'm not taking a stance either way, I'm just highlighting the contradiction.

 

[Brigfa2]

I wonder if fighters worry about average sherdogger’s pay.

They don't have to, they are the supreme creatures and we must worship them!
My main goal in life is seeing all fighters makes millions of dollars

 

[don't ask]

But I haven't really seen opinions and arguments on what benefits it gives to the actual fight game. So what are they? How is this going to benefit the fight game and MMA in general if UFC raises the fighter pay? Surely as a person I would be happy for someone getting paid even more for doing a legal and fair work, but as for MMA fan, what would be the interest?

Nobody is this dense.

You want people to spend time explaining something that you're giving every indication you will invest great energy into not understanding?

 

[Brigfa2]

Because they’re pathetic clowns and always super vocal, slurping up daddy Dana in every thread.

“How dare these athletes dare ask to be paid a manageable and fair wage and cut slightly into record profits!?”

There are no difference between defending Dana or fighters
Both are complete strangers so if you are crying about fighter pay yeah i agree you are a pathetic clown
If they want more money it's their problem, we don't have to defend them like a no life loser

 

[Sgt Smith]

I'll never understand why this is such a taboo subject on Sherdog? The business aspect of fighting should be of interest to fans after the number of insolvent promotions we've seen over the years.