Media Sean Offered "Less Than 200k/200k" Declined Paulo Costa - UPDATE: Sean's Pay RESOLVED, Accepts Paulo Costa

[NoBiasJustMMA]

Not a Strickland fan but good for him. That dude is super popular for good, and bad reasons. Reminds when Nate Diaz exploded up back in the day, and Dana wanted to act like he "didn't move the needle". The UFC is so greedy it's crazy.

Last year I think the math was 16.5% of revenue going to the fighters. I think now it's less than 14.5%. At some point the fighters need to stick together and realize they are all getting fucked over. Or just text each other when the UFC claims the other turned down a fight to help one another get more of the revenue that they are generating.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

I think Strickland is in the right. He shouldn’t be fighting costa right now. Should be a fight in the top 5. The pay being that low when Strickland is absolutely selling and putting in the work at these press conferences is laughable.

However, Strickland better be careful. The division became stacked overnight, and he will fall heavily behind if he doesn’t stay active

The issue is that Whittaker is fighting Khamzat. Strickland fought and lost to Cannonier not too long ago. Lost to DDP and isn't getting that rematch, Izzy is fighting DDP so there's no top 5 guy left. Costa's stock also went up in his close loss to Whittaker.

Costa was way more competitive with Whittaker than Cannonier was. Costa is probably the highest ranked guy available unless he fights Cannonier again, Vettori or Allen but the Costa fight is the most exciting match up.

 

[Istryker]

He's easily 1 of the biggest draws right now, feels like a Nate Diaz situation brewing. Pulls off a huge upset(Conor/Izzy) to become a star but then loses their next fight(Conor 2/DDP) by somewhat controversial decision.

Now the UFC expect him to go back to his old salary as if his starpower vanished once he took an L.

Sean is a star?? Based off what?

 

[Psychojoe86]

The issue is that Whittaker is fighting Khamzat. Strickland fought and lost to Cannonier not too long ago. Lost to DDP and isn't getting that rematch, Izzy is fighting DDP so there's no top 5 guy left. Costa's stock also went up in his close loss to Whittaker.

Costa was way more competitive with Whittaker than Cannonier was. Costa is probably the highest ranked guy available unless he fights Cannonier again, Vettori or Allen but the Costa fight is the most exciting match up.

For sure. Then let’s see Strickland get his pay raise. But he has to fight Usman or something cause now the juicy fights are out of reach.

Maybe fight Hernandez? Strickland fights have grown in anticipation now after his great year last year

 

[Motivated BJ Penn]

He should have refused to fight anyone when he got the belt and renegotiated his contract first.

He had UFC by the balls since they want Izzy as champ and stripping the guy that just ran over him would forever make him a paper champ if he won the vacant belt.

 

[legcramp]

It's pretty crazy how a 4th line fringe NHLer (least popular big sport league in NA) probably makes like twice as much a year as a typical UFC champion or title contender. Minimum salary is like a million lol.

I mean you're comparing groomed from childhood A-level athletes vs. straight from the streets bums need to fight to do something athletes.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

For sure. Then let’s see Strickland get his pay raise. But he has to fight Usman or something cause now the juicy fights are out of reach.

Maybe fight Hernandez? Strickland fights have grown in anticipation now after his great year last year

I would hope he would get the Costa fight and get like 225/225 or 240/240. That seems like a reasonable bump. Costa sells well too so the money is there. I don't think he could get that deal for Vettori, Cannonier or Allen.

Usman might be the only other guy available right now where he could get that.

I do like the guys like Strickland and Costa are putting it out there that they're not turning down fights that they're just asking for reasonable pay increases for match ups based on how much the fights will draw. I think other than Fighters unionizing that's the only way they're going to get a bigger piece of the pie.

I would have rather seen Strickland versus Whitaker and have Khamzat fight Brendan Allen or Vettori but I think the UFC is kind of putting him in a Do or Die situation against Whitaker due to his salary and dwindling hype.

 

[Poirierfan]

This is why they settled the anti-trust lawsuit. Keep business of exploitation of their "independent contractor" talent cruising right along.

Exactly, good point.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

This is why they settled the anti-trust lawsuit. Keep business of exploitation of their "independent contractor" talent cruising right along.

Mate, anyone being sued is going to try to settle outside of court, that's the way the system works. 95% of lawsuits never see a trial. The people to blame there are the fighters who took the payout instead of going to court after blabbering for 10 years that it wasn't about the money.

 

[Pechan]

Then he should fire his manager for a shitty contract.

Ironic enough people still give shit to Costa because he refused to fight until he got a better contract, even calling him a duck and pullout merchant because he didn't fall for the BS of the fight announcement before the fighters even know it and came out straight away saying that he is not figting Rob in Aus.

 

[Pechan]

He's easily 1 of the biggest draws right now, feels like a Nate Diaz situation brewing. Pulls off a huge upset(Conor/Izzy) to become a star but then loses their next fight(Conor 2/DDP) by somewhat controversial decision.

Now the UFC expect him to go back to his old salary as if his starpower vanished once he took an L.

They booked him on that awful PPV as a way to test his actual popularity, if he did big numbers he gets a rematch and a new contract if he did awful numbers they have data to tell him he doesn’t "deserve" a new contract.

Of course they stack the deck against him with that booking becauae what they want is the second outcome.

 

[Reach Finesse]

This is why he ain't ever getting near a title shot again

Right or wrong badmouthing the UFC isnt gonna get you favors from Dana

Run your mouth when you're reigning champ

 

[Reach Finesse]

He's easily 1 of the biggest draws right now, feels like a Nate Diaz situation brewing. Pulls off a huge upset(Conor/Izzy) to become a star but then loses their next fight(Conor 2/DDP) by somewhat controversial decision.

Now the UFC expect him to go back to his old salary as if his starpower vanished once he took an L.

Does his fanbase buy PPVs? Be real

 

[Reach Finesse]

Strickland being offered less than 200K to show at this point is insane. He's arguably the best MW in the world and one of the UFCs biggest stars.

Popular with lower income bracket that doesnt buy PPVS

 

[JoeRowe]

Popular with lower income bracket that doesnt buy PPVS

He was the biggest fan favorite & got the biggest pops from the crowd in Vegas(Pereira), Australia(Izzy), & Canada(DDP).

He's a star & you're offended by it to the point that you refuse to think objectively.

 

[checktheknuckles]

Fuck Dana bitch ass Whtie.

 

[TXstriker]

Palo making big moves with natty god Mike O Tren and his secret juice. He isn’t in a hurry for that fight anytime soon.

 

[Gamer2k4]

He's 3-3 in his last six fights, and coming off a loss. I know he's been around a while and has a title victory, but 200k/200k for a fighter who's only ever been on the main card of 3 PPVs seems excessive.

 

[rearnakedchoke]

I’m not sure if Sean sells, and I don’t like the guy, but he deserves more than that. And he is popular. He is ex champ fighting and ex title contender.

 

[rearnakedchoke]

Palo making big moves with natty god Mike O Tren and his secret juice. He isn’t in a hurry for that fight anytime soon.

Two natty gods in the same muthafuckin place at the same muthafuckin time!!