How is Cage Warriors affording their $50k Prizefighter tournament?

[Dn10]

For those that don't know, Cage Warriors is holding a 6 person tournament for one-night where the winner gets $50k and the number 1 contender status.

They were apparently paying their former Champ Paul Hughes ~$1-2k per fight and he was selling out arenas/headlining shows.

My question is:
1) How is Cage Warriors getting the cash to give out ~$50k for one night's winner
2) Will this not cause issues w/ the champ and other fighters who are going to want a massive sum of money (if I'm the champ getting $1-2k, why is it okay if the contender is getting ~$50k one night and then you expect me to fight him months later for ~2% of that).

 

[MMAddict21]

I’ve said it before but I have my suspicions that Cage Warriors, LFA, and Invicta are all being funded by the UFC to keep them afloat. Can’t have big regional promotions die. So the yeah the UFC is probably on the down low, giving them the money for whoever wins.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Hughes will have been getting 5k in Cage Warriors. Every other headliner has said they got that.

 

[Dn10]

He said he averaged 1.5k a fight. Maybe he’s not being fully honest.


Still though, I’d be livid if I was the champ or a bigger name and they’re giving away $50k to the winner of this tournament but $5k to me with the belt.

 

[Bubzeh]

Peanuts for one of our best regional fighters. Pretty pathetic really.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

He said he averaged 1.5k a fight. Maybe he’s not being fully honest.


Still though, I’d be livid if I was the champ or a bigger name and they’re giving away $50k to the winner of this tournament but $5k to me with the belt.

They're there because it's a place to get them into the UFC.

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

I’ve said it before but I have my suspicions that Cage Warriors, LFA, and Invicta are all being funded by the UFC to keep them afloat. Can’t have big regional promotions die. So the yeah the UFC is probably on the down low, giving them the money for whoever wins.

You 100 percent correct . And it is not a secret. The UFC pays money to all league on fight pass to help keep them afloat.

They also help fund/sponsor the IMMAF, many BJJ tournaments, amateur wrestling competitions


Except for Invicta is no longer on fight pass and get money from CBS now

 

[David Street]

I’ve said it before but I have my suspicions that Cage Warriors, LFA, and Invicta are all being funded by the UFC to keep them afloat. Can’t have big regional promotions die. So the yeah the UFC is probably on the down low, giving them the money for whoever wins.

Go to All Properties on IMG's webpage. IMG a part of Endeavor (TKO/UFC) list Cage Warriors as theirs.

Portfolio | IMG

www.img.com

 

[TCE]

For those that don't know, Cage Warriors is holding a 6 person tournament for one-night where the winner gets $50k and the number 1 contender status.

They were apparently paying their former Champ Paul Hughes ~$1-2k per fight and he was selling out arenas/headlining shows.

My question is:
1) How is Cage Warriors getting the cash to give out ~$50k for one night's winner
2) Will this not cause issues w/ the champ and other fighters who are going to want a massive sum of money (if I'm the champ getting $1-2k, why is it okay if the contender is getting ~$50k one night and then you expect me to fight him months later for ~2% of that).

How does a 6 person one night tournament work?

3 fights. 3 winners. Do they have a triple threat match or something?

 

[Koala]

Their Fight Academy in Asia and the fighters' camp in South California might be way more expensive than 50k

 

[STAY GOLD]

Go to All Properties on IMG's webpage. IMG a part of Endeavor (TKO/UFC) list Cage Warriors as theirs.

Portfolio | IMG

www.img.com

That’s not what they own. FIFA is listed on there and they don’t own FIFA.

 

[David Street]

That’s not what they own. FIFA is listed on there and they don’t own FIFA.

No just own the streaming rights, which is what they care about.

 

[Dn10]

They have a reserve bout (similar to Invicta) and 4 person main bracket. At least they used an open draw for the match-ups (PFL could take note).

Boylan could be making a killing off CW, as agreed their other venture are quite expensive. Just saying that by offering this $50k prize, it messes up their pay structure to champs. Maybe they need to get more competitive w/ PFL Europe and Oktagon throwing around more money.

 

[skylolow]

For those that don't know, Cage Warriors is holding a 6 person tournament for one-night where the winner gets $50k and the number 1 contender status.

They were apparently paying their former Champ Paul Hughes ~$1-2k per fight and he was selling out arenas/headlining shows.

My question is:
1) How is Cage Warriors getting the cash to give out ~$50k for one night's winner
2) Will this not cause issues w/ the champ and other fighters who are going to want a massive sum of money (if I'm the champ getting $1-2k, why is it okay if the contender is getting ~$50k one night and then you expect me to fight him months later for ~2% of that).

They do get money from the being on Fight Pass, they seem to sell ok in UK, and they don't pay fighters a hell of a lot. But reality is they probably got a good sponsorship deal for the tournament to help or cover the 50K.

 

[David Street]

They have a reserve bout (similar to Invicta) and 4 person main bracket. At least they used an open draw for the match-ups (PFL could take note).

Boylan could be making a killing off CW, as agreed their other venture are quite expensive. Just saying that by offering this $50k prize, it messes up their pay structure to champs. Maybe they need to get more competitive w/ PFL Europe and Oktagon throwing around more money.

Agree, at one time CW was on track to catch KSW as number one in Europe. Graham Boylan bought the promotion with, my guess the money came from UFC.

 

[Buffmeister]

How does a 6 person one night tournament work?

3 fights. 3 winners. Do they have a triple threat match or something?

3rd fight probably an alternate, if injury happens

 

[HuskySamoan]

They're there because it's a place to get them into the UFC.

PFL*

 

[Pittie Petey]

That’s not what they own. FIFA is listed on there and they don’t own FIFA.

They owned FIFA's sorry ass the moment UFC got bigger than soccer
FACT

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Cage Warriors seemingly makes good money, why wouldn't they have 50k? It's a special event so they took some money out from the bank, and like someone else said, whoever is sponsoring it would have contributed to the pot.

50k is not a lot of money...is this the state MMA that we need to ask questions on how 25 year old promotion based in a developed nation can pay a 50k purse for one night? Cmon yall, random tech and finance bros spend half that in one Saturday night lol.

 

[Dn10]

Cage Warriors seemingly makes good money, why wouldn't they have 50k? It's a special event so they took some money out from the bank, and like someone else said, whoever is sponsoring it would have contributed to the pot.

50k is not a lot of money...is this the state MMA that we need to ask questions on how 25 year old promotion based in a developed nation can pay a 50k purse for one night? Cmon yall, random tech and finance bros spend half that in one Saturday night lol.

When a recent former champ said he only made $1.5k a fight, it’s clearly a massive step up.