What benefits do UFC fighters get?

Fioretti said:
According to this article:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.th...yle/sports/highest-paid-ufc-fighters-15093778

The average fighter pay is $138k.

187 fighters made more than $100k
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According to common sense, that is a random blog and they cite no sources, literally punching up "according to industry insiders."

No disrespect but that is a joke.

We don't have to guess how much revenue goes to fighters, because it is public information pursuant to a class action lawsuit, and the finances were part of discovery. A paltry ~18% of revenue went to fighter pay in 2019, and that includes every single cent on the P&L attributed to fighters. Purse, performance and discretionary bonuses, PPV points, even the cost of their insurance.

The 'average' fighter is not making 75k guaranteed, or anything remotely like that, per fight.
 
Fioretti said:
Here's a more recent article:

https://thesportsdaily.com/2019/12/30/2019-ufc-fighter-salaries-complete-list-fox11/

The previous one was numbers from 2018, this one is from 2019, and actually gives a breakdown of the entire roster's salary.

36% of the roster made $100k+

37% of the roster made less than $45k

This is salary only, no bonuses or sponsor money. Not as bad as you thought, eh?
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To arrive at that number they added performance of the night bonuses and Rebok pay, this isn't related to their purse, and they didn't cite their source for the calculation, which is completely fabricated to begin with.

They quote purses of fighters who did not even fight under a commission that releases purse information. Look for yourself, they specify Overeem as the big earner in 2019.

He fought in DC and China that year, look it up - there is no public purse information released by a commission in DC and internationally the UFC acts as their own commission in China.

This is complete bullshit, but I didn't want to just tell you that, I wanted to explain why its complete bullshit so you know better.
 
Dreyga2000 said:
Yes, the UFC covers 100% of fight related medical and I also believe injuries that happen during training, but double check me.

The level of medical care fighters receive is leagues above other organizations another reasons many fighters are reluctant to leave the UFC for other organizations

Many fighters consider USADA a benefit

The UFC also built the PI which acts as a hi-tech Rehan center that helps fighter recover from injuries.

The UFC has team of chefs and nutritionists that helps fighters with their meals.

Thru also have a team of experts that help the fighters cut weight safely.
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The UFC is really good about paying for fighters’ injuries during fights, but the scary part is they’re under no obligation to do so. They have the “accident” insurance which covers training camp injuries which is great. It makes no sense that they wouldn’t be obligated to pay for injuries in the cage but they aren’t. I don’t really feel like they deserve props for doing something so basic. They absolutely deserve props for cases like Brock Lesnar when he had diverticulitis.
 
PokerGod23 said:
Sure, but my pushback would be... why is that the UFC's problem? Not all industries in this world are designed to create employment for 40-50 years.

Not saying this pertains to you, but I think there's a lot of ignorant people in the public who think that if a UFC fighter "retires" from the sport at 35, that they have no ability to generate income for the rest of their lives, and that somehow the UFC should be responsible for paying them so much money that they never have to work again. I think that's total bullshit, and an almost impossible argument to do intelligently.

The ONLY benefit that I think is debatable is essentially lifetime healthcare coverage that encompasses injuries that occur through combat. Basically, if I need 5 leg surgeries a decade after I retire because of injuries sustained in the Octagon, I think its reasonable to expect the UFC to pay for that. But I do not, by any stretch of the imagination, think its reasonable to think the UFC should have to pay for your colonoscopy at 50 just because you fought for them 15 years ago and have provided no value to them since.

I think fighter pay is reasonable. I think not offering them all encompassing healthcare coverage is reasonable. I think not offering them some lucrative pension is reasonable.
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Too bad the UFC isn’t as “reasonable” as you as it relates to Tim Sylvia. He broke his arm in a fight, 10-15 years later he needs another surgery and the UFC flatly refused to pay for it.
 
RampageFaction said:
The UFC is really good about paying for fighters’ injuries during fights, but the scary part is they’re under no obligation to do so. They have the “accident” insurance which covers training camp injuries which is great. It makes no sense that they wouldn’t be obligated to pay for injuries in the cage but they aren’t. I don’t really feel like they deserve props for doing something so basic. They absolutely deserve props for cases like Brock Lesnar when he had diverticulitis.
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The commissions require it.
 
It's just a friendly market for low wages. Most fighters love fighting. Sure there are some athletes looking to cash in or skilled gold diggers like Conor. But most fighters would be fighting for free just to compete and prove themselves (in the streets, competing gyms or tournaments). It is human nature to do so. Just like the healthcare business pays shit wages to people with a calling to help the sick. It is what it is..
 
Fioretti said:
Good points, but again, 36% are making more than six figures in disclosed pay. Manager and camp expenses are write-offs, they reduce your total taxable income.

A fighter making 30k show/win, who fights 2-3 times a year is absolutley making more than the average worker who grosses $45k. They're grossing double in three losses, and would quadruple that $45k with 3 wins. There's no question they would net more than the average worker.

One thing that I haven't mentioned yet is the fact that the 37% of the roster making less than $45k also includes any fighters with $45k or less show/win who only fought once and lost. This includes anybody unable to fight due to injury, suspension, or getting cut.

63% of the roster is grossing more than the average American worker in disclosed pay only. It's not like the majority these fighters are going hungry or need public housing. Some may, of course, and that very well may be why they CHOSE to be fighters.
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Could you explain those numbers to me. From the articles I’ve read 66% of the fighters make less than 45k a year. And the huge hole in your argument is you’re not calculating the cost of a training camp. An 8 week camp costs on average 12-15k. Does every fighter spend this much no? Do some spend way more? Yes. These are real costs and when you factor in manager fees at 20% and gym fees at 10-15%, you can’t say that those fighters are actually making 6 figures. Write offs aren’t gonna make a huge difference. A regular “employee” doesn’t have to spend money to do his job, fighters do.

“On average, UFC fighters took home $132K in ’17, but that figure is misleading; while Georges St. Pierre took home $2.5 million, 41% of the promotion’s fighters took home less than the average U.S. household income ($45K) and nearly 25% made less than $25,000 (131/537).”

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/dec/06/chuck-liddell-ufc-mma-tito-ortiz
 
campbecc said:
The commissions require it.
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Not to my knowledge. They require accidental death policies and New York even requires TBI insurance, but fighters sign a liability waiver for injuries during fights. If you have a source let me see it.
 
Turdbucket said:
It's just a friendly market for low wages. Most fighters love fighting. Sure there are some athletes looking to cash in or skilled gold diggers like Conor. But most fighters would be fighting for free just to compete and prove themselves (in the streets, competing gyms or tournaments). It is human nature to do so. Just like the healthcare business pays shit wages to people with a calling to help the sick. It is what it is..
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That’s fantasyland logic. They’re prize fighters and it’s absolutely about the money.
 
campbecc said:
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/NAC-467.html#NAC467Sec149

They sign a waiver that they can't sue not that they are responsible for their own medical bills.
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Where’s the proof that the ufc is obligated to pay their medical bills for injuries sustained during the fight? EVERYTHING I have seen so far says the UFC usually pays for these bills but they do not have to. It’s not their responsibility. That’s why I quoted the liability waiver.
 
10% off all reebok products Monday through Friday (not weekends though)
 
Same benefits as all local live musicians, "free exposure"
 
It would be nice if I could go to work one day, then open up my own gym and get paid for the rest of my life
 
benefits... none unless you´re McG or another superstar
 
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