Media The UFC's "Opportunity" Re-evaluated by Gray Maynard

[Pakman]

Nothing will change unless it's court ordered. I firmly believe that. The UFC should pay fighters more, and the bigger names should get a higher percentage while the floor is higher for those who are working their way up.

1,000 threads won't make a difference either way.

Still, if you're a fan of a fighter, there are ways to support them. You could purchase some of their merchandise if you are so inclined.

I've lost count as to the number of jockstraps I've bought on eBay.

 

[Pakman]

I don't know much about the Ali act, but if it turns MMA into Boxing I hope it never affects MMA

I don't care if the top guys make a bigger percentage, it's not worth ruining the sport. IMO that would be worse for everyone other than the top 5 or so names at whatever given time, I think some people on here take for granted how amazing the UFC product is for us, last year had so many amazing, exciting cards, compare it to Boxing and it's not even close

I hope somehow the UFC eventually has a union as strong as the NFL's (I would say NBA, but their union is a little too strong lol)

It's not just the top guys making more, it's everyone making more. The bottom tier fighters wouldn't be making 10/10 or 12/12 if that's what it is now (I don't recall if they upped it). They would get something like 40k guaranteed win or lose. That would make it so more fighters at the bottom wouldn't need to work a 2nd job so they can train part time. They could be full time fighters.

Maybe the UFC should just give every new fighter they sign a $30k signing bonus and pay every fighter on contract for 1 full calendar year something like $50k.

Win bonus needs to go away though, fighters salaries shouldn't be determined on if they win or lose that fight.

 

[StonedLemur]

Everybody knows that unionizing is the only way to change this shit.
If they don't get together, they will deal with this shit forever...case closed.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

If the UFC is only an 'opportunity', and not there to actually make you rich, what is the point of that opportunity?

So you can go and be a celebrity?

I'm telling you, as of 2022, this is the end of Dana White and his business model.

I think they'll let Ngannou walk, fail horribly in boxing and once it happens a couple more times it'll kill the demand for boxing vs mma fights in boxing which will kill the market value of fighters outside MMA.

The only way it'll work imo is if fighters try and promote individual fights outside of promotional banners, but without promoters lining up to help I don't know how they build the star power for that. Like if Jones also gets out of his contract they could make a lot of money doing Jones Vs Ngannou independently of the UFC, but then what happens after that?

 

[Hellowhosthat]

It's not just the top guys making more, it's everyone making more. The bottom tier fighters wouldn't be making 10/10 or 12/12 if that's what it is now (I don't recall if they upped it). They would get something like 40k guaranteed win or lose. That would make it so more fighters at the bottom wouldn't need to work a 2nd job so they can train part time. They could be full time fighters.

Maybe the UFC should just give every new fighter they sign a $30k signing bonus and pay every fighter on contract for 1 full calendar year something like $50k.

Win bonus needs to go away though, fighters salaries shouldn't be determined on if they win or lose that fight.

The Ali act wouldn't help the bottom rung guys I don't think. They just don't have much market value really.

 

[CannotWin]

That’s why when people shitting on jake Paul (and I get it he is a YouTube kook trying to attack our sport) , but he had a point and seems to legit care about mma fighters pay. He has spoken out on it many times. He is bringing attention to it. I think the majority hopes the fighters start getting paid like they should. Especially since we all know most of them are going to have major health problems down the road from being mma fighters.

Lol if you think Jake Paul cares about fighter pay you are fucking insane.

 

[Deleted member 585708]

I think they'll let Ngannou walk, fail horribly in boxing and once it happens a couple more times it'll kill the demand for boxing vs mma fights in boxing which will kill the market value of fighters outside MMA.

The only way it'll work imo is if fighters try and promote individual fights outside of promotional banners, but without promoters lining up to help I don't know how they build the star power for that. Like if Jones also gets out of his contract they could make a lot of money doing Jones Vs Ngannou independently of the UFC, but then what happens after that?

I agree, I think the celebrity boxing link will last a year or two, then it will fizzle.

However there's nothing stopping a boxing promoter taking, say, Triller's model of mixing both boxing and MMA fights to create interesting cards.

ONE Championship already does this at a high profile level with Muay Thai & Kickboxing as well as MMA, only there's no money in Muay Thai or Kickboxing; the future, for sure, is boxing & MMA events.

While it probably won't happen right away, it would be remarkably easy for Francis N'Gannou & Tyson Fury to co-promote:

Fury vs Usyk (Boxing)
N'Gannou vs Bhullar (MMA)
Etc.

The two winners meet in first boxing, then MMA, whatever you want.

(I only mention Bhullar as he's under the same representation of N'Gannou, so it's theoretically possible going forward).

These guys are going to get WAY bigger pay days than anything the UFC can offer, because the UFC has forged itself into this massive machine that doesn't actually pay the fighters well enough despite all the extra benefits.

I don't see this just going away now that the movers and shakers in MMA aren't just MMA agents wanting MMA fights for their MMA fighters.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

I agree, I think the celebrity boxing link will last a year or two, then it will fizzle.

However there's nothing stopping a boxing promoter taking, say, Triller's model of mixing both boxing and MMA fights to create interesting cards.

ONE Championship already does this at a high profile level with Muay Thai & Kickboxing as well as MMA, only there's no money in Muay Thai or Kickboxing; the future, for sure, is boxing & MMA events.

While it probably won't happen right away, it would be remarkably easy for Francis N'Gannou & Tyson Fury to co-promote:

Fury vs Usyk (Boxing)
N'Gannou vs Bhullar (MMA)
Etc.

The two winners meet in first boxing, then MMA, whatever you want.

(I only mention Bhullar as he's under the same representation of N'Gannou, so it's theoretically possible going forward).

These guys are going to get WAY bigger pay days than anything the UFC can offer, because the UFC has forged itself into this massive machine that doesn't actually pay the fighters well enough despite all the extra benefits.

I don't see this just going away now that the movers and shakers in MMA aren't just MMA agents wanting MMA fights for their MMA fighters.

I think we'd be surprised by how many boxing fans don't want MMA on boxing cards tbh. It might be interesting as an experiment to see how well it does though.

I think it'll take a lot to break the status quo. If you go by tap rankings which I'm using as they're the ones voted on by fans, people think that all the best fighters are in the UFC and once someone leaves the UFC as a top fighter they seem to get forgotten about quickly.

Mighty Mouse hasn't generated any real interest in ONE unfortunately (although he was never really a draw in the UFC either tbf).

 

[The J0ker]

Surprisingly coherent and insightful coming from Maynard. Perhaps his CTE is not as bad as I thought. Good for him.

 

[Ace70 V2]

I could see him as Brother Maynard -like for the 5th season of the Last KingdomView attachment 904632

Frustrated Saxon warrior monk who gets killed by strange twitchy Danish ground fighter

That show doesn't get enough credit for how awesome it is.

 

[Here's Johnny!]

A so-so selling PPV that does 500k views is still more than $25 million in UFC revenue. People have been so conditioned by PPV points that they don't understand how lucrative events are with just gate and a few hundred thousand PPV buys.

I heard it sold 200k buys... after paying for the arena, every fighter... 15 million isn't a ton of money gross...

 

[oscerthegrouch]

Let me be clear. I'm not trying to be political I'm keeping this completely within the realm of fighter pay context; the Dana White model is the new normal for corporate capitalism within sports unless you have collective bargaining power and legislative rights . Again let me be clear;
All major sports leagues in the US from baseball to Football won their rights through collective bargaining. They realized their value and built their rights through organization and legal action at the federal and state level.
The equivalent will never happen for MMA including the UFC until fighters realize they are ONE.

Prize fighting... not a sport

 

[Dbreiden83080]

Nothing will change unless it's court ordered. I firmly believe that. The UFC should pay fighters more, and the bigger names should get a higher percentage while the floor is higher for those who are working their way up.

1,000 threads won't make a difference either way.

Still, if you're a fan of a fighter, there are ways to support them. You could purchase some of their merchandise if you are so inclined.

The fighters have to unionize to make any change. MLB Players after 40 plus years of owners bleeding them dry finally started demanding a more fair share in the 50's and 60's, and took steps to unionize. Owners pushed back of course, refusing to speak with lawyers that wanted to represent the players, but the players got on the same page and just kept pushing. Eventually they got the right people in place to rep them, and the ball started rolling..

Fighters must reach this breaking point, and do the same. The biggest issue is the UFC gobbles up all the revenue sharing. Without a union this will never change.. If the UFC one day can have a true union like every other major sport in the US.. Everyone wins.

 

[Patman]

LOL at using UFC as a platform.

In that case, WWE rasslers don’t need to paid well. Just use it to launch you into a lucrative movie career like Dwayne the Rock Johnson. So easy anybody can do it.

 

[D 1 Wrestler]

Nothing will change unless it's court ordered. I firmly believe that. The UFC should pay fighters more, and the bigger names should get a higher percentage while the floor is higher for those who are working their way up.

1,000 threads won't make a difference either way.

Still, if you're a fan of a fighter, there are ways to support them. You could purchase some of their merchandise if you are so inclined.

Nothing will change until the top fighters go on strike like every other sport has had to do.

Problem is UFC fighters despite many of them constantly whining in public about pay and fairness have small balls when it comes to striking. There's also very little unity and loyalty between fighters

 

[D 1 Wrestler]

LOL at using UFC as a platform.

In that case, WWE rasslers don’t need to paid well. Just use it to launch you into a lucrative movie career like Dwayne the Rock Johnson. So easy anybody can do it.

Worked for the rock, stone cold, John Cena. What other sport has generated three successful mainstream actors? Who is to say the other guys on the roster had the chops and dedication to be successful actors? Would rampage, bisping, Rhonda, etc been in movies without UFC?

 

[Tito Tapped]

What other sport has generated three successful mainstream actors?

I could name a dozen former NFL players with more hollywood acting clout than Steve Austin.

 

[cooks1]

Nothing will change unless it's court ordered. I firmly believe that. The UFC should pay fighters more, and the bigger names should get a higher percentage while the floor is higher for those who are working their way up.

1,000 threads won't make a difference either way.

Still, if you're a fan of a fighter, there are ways to support them. You could purchase some of their merchandise if you are so inclined.

They don't need courts. The fighters just need organization, solidarity, and a willingness to endure short term suffering for long term benefit and the greater good. If 650 of the 700 and change fighters under UFC contract got together and refused to fight again until there was something more equitable, they could probably have things wrapped up in 6 months or less. Refusing fights is not even a violation of their contracts.

That is just an incredibly difficult thing to accomplish with fighters. Many of them are self centered obnoxious egomaniacs. With no larger more powerful entity advocating for their interests. And they would have to act in concert with their opponents in the cage. Further complicating matters is the fact that most of them barely have their heads above water financially already. It is a group absolutely ripe for exploitation, and that's exactly what's happening.

I was chatting with a fellow fan recently, and we were discussing the legality of some billionaire philanthropist MMA fan just offering to pay the fighters their contracts to not fight until real concessions were made. One of the reasons unions can strike is because they have strike funds to help employees get by until they are back at work.

It would not cost all that much in the grand scheme. $400 million in a pot would fund the entire UFC fighter payroll for 2 years. The problem is it would just have to be done out of kindness. Any profit motive would almost certainly put it in violation of anti trust laws. It might be illegal anyway, I just can't think of how.

 

[Volador]

To oversimplify, you need half of the several hundred fighters to sign a card check (language barriers). And you need to convince Brazilian fighters that 12k is a shit deal in the US even tho it goes farther there. And it's an individual sport.

This is all to say a union won't happen.

But isn't half the roster or more American/American-based? It doesn't sound so impossible in that sense. What seems hard is that an influential group should take the first step and convince the rest, and that would involve confronting the UFC even if you are making good money.

 

[cooks1]

I heard it sold 200k buys... after paying for the arena, every fighter... 15 million isn't a ton of money gross...

This is just the fucking tip of the iceberg. People have no idea of the UFC's reach. It may be true that they are not a 'mainstream' sport. But they are not a mainstream sport virtually everywhere.

The UFC has a huge TV and on line deal with Canal/RMC media in France. It covers France, Africa, and parts of Asia.

Sentana Sports in Ukraine
Discovery+ in Netherlands and Spain
Gazprom in Russia
Abu Dhabi media/Starzplay
Sohu in China
DAZN in Japan
Grupo in Mexico

You starting to get the picture. The are in over 150 countries now.