During a conversation with Jake Paul, Jorge Masvidal expressed his views on how the UFC compensates its fighters, advocating for significant changes in the payment system for those positioned within the top 10 to 15 rankings. He stated that he has no issues with the compensation for new fighters entering the promotion.
Jorge Masvidal Believes Entry-Level UFC Fighter Pay is Justifiable, But Mid-Tier Fighters Are Undercompensated
Masvidal cited examples of fighters who have achieved perfect records against less formidable opponents. He argued that such fighters, even with a 6-0 record built against weak competition, should not immediately receive substantial pay. According to Masvidal, fighters earn their way to higher pay through facing increasingly challenging opponents.
He acknowledged the fairness of the UFC’s starting pay for beginners, which ranges from $10,000 to $12,000 for a win. This starting pay, he noted, is more than what many regional promotions offer, which is often considerably less. Fighters entering through the Contender Series and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) program begin with an even lower flat rate of approximately $10,000. The most significant financial strain, Masvidal contends, is faced by mid-tier fighters. These individuals, who have dedicated years to the promotion and are positioned in the upper echelon, may earn between $80,000 and $250,000 per fight. Masvidal asserted that fighters ranked in the top 15 should earn enough to cover their expenses without needing supplementary employment, such as retail jobs.
The UFC categorizes fighter pay into three tiers: low, medium, and high. Newcomers typically fall into the lowest tier, receiving $10,000 to $30,000 per bout. Established stars and champions can command between $500,000 and $3 million. It’s noteworthy that the UFC allocates only 16-20% of its revenue to fighter compensation, a figure significantly lower than the 50% shared in deals within the NBA or NFL.
Masvidal, who retired in 2023 after a loss to Gilbert Burns, concluded his professional MMA career with a record of 35 wins and 17 losses. He is now the promoter of Gamebred FC, an organization that has distributed nearly $3 million across its initial four events. Masvidal’s perspective aligns with previous calls for improved compensation for top-tier fighters. The ongoing debate surrounding fighter pay continues amidst the UFC’s considerable profits. Events like UFC 326 highlighted the disparity, with the lowest-earning fighter receiving $16,000 while the headliners earned substantially more. Masvidal views the entry-level pay as a reasonable starting point and identifies the middle ranks as the critical area requiring adjustment.