New Paramount deal means loss of PPV points for top-tier fighters?

[don't ask]

They'll likely redo the PPV points system for fighters and tie it to Paramount Plus / CBS ratings etc. Or just give certain fighters a higher guarantee.

Or they won't do anything and just completely screw over the fighters.

 

[vinnie245]

Yeah a ratings system could work, the higher ratings you get the more you get paid extra as a champion.
UFC will probably just do a slight-moderate increase to their base contracts.

 

[Here's Johnny!]

It's time for these overpaid agents to earn there 30%

 

[RockyLockridge]

Meh, I never cared for PPV points anyway.

I hope PPV points go away entirely. It just creates excuses to make match ups that aren't sensible while chasing the coveted PPV dollars. Maybe now that PPV isn't a thing, we can focus on the most merited match ups. (Yeah, I Know, Im a dreamer)

 

[usernamee]

Or they won't do anything and just completely screw over the fighters.

Probably gonna stay silent on the topic for as long as possible to see how big of an uproar it creates and then adjust it the least amount possible lol.

 

[don't ask]

Probably gonna stay silent on the topic for as long as possible to see how big of an uproar it creates and then adjust it the least amount possible lol.

This is probably true.

 

[ninja boot]

They'll likely redo the PPV points system for fighters and tie it to Paramount Plus / CBS ratings etc. Or just give certain fighters a higher guarantee.

After the Reebok debacle and the lack of response from the fighters touching on this it'd be surprising to hear that something hasn't been planned to cover ppv points.

 

[Fergelmince]

Paramount+ is paying the UFC $1.1B/yr. The UFC pays the fighters. I haven't seen anything about Paramount+ paying the UFC more if the viewership is higher for a numbered event. I don't see any way the fighters get more money out of this deal unless the UFC pays them more out of that $1.1B/yr.

 

[Neck&Neck]

Free Paramount+ subscription is the new PPV points

 

[GrantB13]

What does this mean? You're not making the sacrifice here, they are, and you seem to know this.

And the fans don't benefit if the sport is harmed.

I'm joking

 

[GrantB13]

Sounds like more retired legends.

The white house bullshit is the only thing holding them in place until next year.

This is interesting (to watch fans care more about themselves than fighters getting paid).

Another 7 billion in the UFC corner and somehow the fighters are begging to be on a single card.

Sad days ahead.

They're getting rid of PPV so now nobody can argue that "oh you don't even buy PPV". What else can we do? It's not MY fault the brass don't want to pay out. I'm not in control of their salary. I'll have Paramount+. Am I supposed to donate or buy fight kits to supplement their income like tipping at a restaurant? Sorry, but it's not our problem to solve. I can't spend hundred dollars of my money on 1000 fighters each.

 

[don't ask]

I'm joking

are you?

They're getting rid of PPV so now nobody can argue that "oh you don't even buy PPV". What else can we do? It's not MY fault the brass don't want to pay out. I'm not in control of their salary. I'll have Paramount+. Am I supposed to donate or buy fight kits to supplement their income like tipping at a restaurant? Sorry, but it's not our problem to solve. I can't spend hundred dollars of my money on 1000 fighters each.

 

[markg171]

I'm pretty sure PPV points have been largely inconsequential for most fighters for years. Not many fighters were even earning them and the PPV numbers have been garbage.

They'll probably either move to some flat champion/star bonus, or base it off Paramount+ views / subscriptions sold for the event.

 

[El Fernas]

Now when you read a purse there wont be estimates, if they fight in California it will be very close to the actual number.

Meh, I never cared for PPV points anyway.

I hope PPV points go away entirely. It just creates excuses to make match ups that aren't sensible while chasing the coveted PPV dollars. Maybe now that PPV isn't a thing, we can focus on the most merited match ups. (Yeah, I Know, Im a dreamer)

It will remain the same, the company will still care for ticket sales and subscription sales with big fights, not being on PPV doesnt it mean they wont try to make the biggest money fights. Canelo vs Crawford isnt on PPV...

 

[Tweak896]

It's pretty fucking hilarious how often the guys who complained about PPV cost also are the ones might be banging the drums in other threads to increase pay to what the fighters are worth. PPV points were an avenue for fighters to directly grab their own worth and I assume that's gone.

My thoughts are fighters after 2016 kept using negotiations more than ever after Conor and will continue. It's not like ESPN was selling tons of PPVs anyways unless you're Conor. There's probably going to be a viewership bonus instead of buys, but who knows when we ever get that information until a lawsuit. Who knows? Maybe removing the PPV barrier is what will finally grow the sport and fighters will get paid the more eyes watching fights. Fighters aren't going to get NFL level pay immediately with an announcement and the growth will take years.

 

[jeff7b9]

(Yeah, I Know, Im a dreamer)

A few questions:


Do you have a heart of gold?

Have you ever run away high so you wouldn't come home low?

 

[Myrddin Wild]

They'll have to accommodate them somehow. No question about it or they'll just go somewhere else with easier fights. It's literally that unlimited ceiling that attracts teh best.

perhaps it will still be based on viewz, but the tierz will change. (current 1M buys will = 3M views or something like that)


The past PPV model:
Me & @FrankieNYC used to keep up with this stuff back in teh day...

This is the Alverez scale that he publicly revealed which is very much in the ballpark of what we've heard about from others regarding the lower end of the scale. (Couture court case revealed relatively similar numbers the UFC were required by law to provide. Though they were a little HIGHER at the low end because it waz earlier & the PPV's weren't as easy to blow oop back then. All in all, I consider the Alvarez scale pretty legit.)

• Less than 200k = No money
• 200k – 400k = $1/buy = $200k
• 400K – 600k = $2/buy = $400k for this tier – (600k total)
• 600k + = $2.50/buy

2018, Oct 1 – DC sayz the amount of PPV money you get between 800k & 1.1 mill is big. Every 100k over 800k is another level.



Conor said prior to fighting Khabib that there waz $7 per buy to be had over 1.5 mill. That waz pretty much teh cap of anything we've heard about.

Those 3 sourcez give us the best idea about how this current scale works.

For reference, here'z what we calculated the AVERAGE of all PPVs through a year. (stinkers mixed in with the big ones on average)


Getting over 300k waz a pretty big deal, & over 500 or so was rare.

With this new model, 1.5 viewerz on free TV will be nothing to get & so perhaps yesterdays 1.5 Mill tier will now require 7 mill views. (Just guessing.) Or DC's described teirs at 800k will now start at 2M views... or something like this.

 

[jeff7b9]

One thing I haven't heard anyone mention

Is this gonna kneecap all the PPVs for the rest of the year ?

Check it- you walk into Five Guys or BK whatever burger place and see a sign:

Whoppers going on the dollar menu in 2026!!!

Woohoo.

And then you look at the menu and it says :

Whopper $7.99


.... you buying that full price whopper?

 

[skylolow]

The top managers in the game and the biggest fighters in the game aren't going to go away quietly without compensation. PPV buys was a big part of of guys like Jones wealth and a massive driving factor for many fighters pushing to that top level.

 

[dogsdonutsdragons]

this sport isnt for the fighters. never has been. its been for a select few and the ones who run the show. for every guy who wants fair pay there are 10 trailer park idiots who will take his place for less. they should just move the power slap roster over to the ufc and boot all the fighters who wine.