Shouldn't the "Prize" In A Prizefight Be the Same For Both Fighters?

[Captain Herb]

Why should one fighter get paid many times over to win the same fight as his opponent? While show money could vary based on a fighter's popularity, win bonuses (which should make up the majority of the payout for obvious reasons) should be equal. If you're a scrub and you're being asked to fight a highly paid fighter to make them look good, or maybe save an event, if you win, why wouldn't you be entitled to the same win bonus, i .e. the prize in a prizefight?

 

[kwijyboy]

The win bonus is

 

[Mike]

No. It's literally never worked that way.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

You make your prize if you beat the big star. How much more money does Khabib make after beating McGregor?

 

[bigmacbub]

Because some prize fighters are not equal in terms of entertainment, skill, value etc.....

 

[Frank McEdgar]

Contracts

 

[AmericanUppercut]

it's a negotiation

 

[cmw43]

So you think guys like Reyes and Anthony Smith should get the same win bonus as 10 x defending Champion Jon Jones?

That's not how the business works, you need to earn your value.

 

[MCS]

It's not, or should not be, about the promotion. That they determine the prize. They are there as hosts, for the venue. That is how it was intended to be, but things happened and what was first the referee became the event holder, who then controls the event. The prizefighter determines for what he fights. What he can get.

 

[snowbro]

So you think guys like Reyes and Anthony Smith should get the same win bonus as 10 x defending Champion Jon Jones?

That's not how the business works, you need to earn your value.

Actually now that you mention it, yes I do. The fact that he would beat the 10x defending champ deserves an amazing prize. The 10x defending champ is doing what he does defending, so the underdog has a bigger challenge to overcome so I think the win bonus should be the same.

 

[chs140]

The win bonus is

No it isn't.

 

[EXOICHO]

Actually now that you mention it, yes I do. The fact that he would beat the 10x defending champ deserves an amazing prize. The 10x defending champ is doing what he does defending, so the underdog has a bigger challenge to overcome so I think the win bonus should be the same.

but the prize is a significantly better contract for beating someone like jones vs beating someone like jessica eye

if you become champ you make exponentially more money, plus a belt that's worth a lot of money on it's own.

 

[Ecker707]

No. It's literally never worked that way.

yeah never, not like UFC 1 was a tournament where the winner would take home $50k or anything. (there are probably more examples other than this 1)

 

[Mike]

yeah never, not like UFC 1 was a tournament where the winner would take home $50k or anything. (there are probably more examples other than this 1)

Ok pull some outlier from the stone age of mma. Typically the champ or top draw makes more. There's a long history of this in boxing. It's happened before, but both guys being paid the same is the exception not the rule. So yes, the bigger star getting more has literally been the case for quite a while

 

[Fioretti]

In theory, but not in practice.

 

[Dinomit]

I always wondered how the amount on offer effects motivation/performance

 

[Kryptt]

The prize is equal...."It's an Opportunity"

Ya Goof!

 

[cade187]

Prize fighting is a slang term for boxing. Your thread is bad.

 

[Qays Stetkevich]

but the prize is a significantly better contract for beating someone like jones vs beating someone like jessica eye

if you become champ you make exponentially more money, plus a belt that's worth a lot of money on it's own.

Sure, but it's relative. You also have to admit that just because you're champ doesn't mean you're going to make as much as that *other* trash-talking champ. And the fact that the other guy is paid so much isn't solely based off of his fighting. Of course there are multiple facets to it, but a part of me thinks that it would be cool to (once again) have a: Champ gets XXXXXXX$$ on a big check, no matter who the champ ends up being. Like others have mentioned, that would add an awesome angle to underdog stories and maybe even pull some of non-fight-related drama away from the sport (I know some people like that, but they can always go to WWE)

 

[EXOICHO]

Sure, but it's relative. You also have to admit that just because you're champ doesn't mean you're going to make as much as that *other* trash-talking champ. And the fact that the other guy is paid so much isn't solely based off of his fighting. Of course there are multiple facets to it, but a part of me thinks that it would be cool to (once again) have a: Champ gets XXXXXXX$$ on a big check, no matter who the champ ends up being. Like others have mentioned, that would add an awesome angle to underdog stories and maybe even pull some of non-fight-related drama away from the sport (I know some people like that, but they can always go to WWE)

I agree, that's part of why i love RIZIN for example. But I think the way the UFC does it still is consistent with the same logic