Lorenzo Fertitta: I wanted to pay fighters $1 million

[@fitafanatomy3359]

You don't get that rich by telling the truth.

[@theexplorer7139]

SaR D So true.

[@elvirfale5431]

SaR D lol

[@miketython6554]

SaR D He got rich from his dad. Dana white got rich from hard work. Not all rich people are liars. Your comment seems jealous.

[@J.T.19134]

Mike Tython, Dana Got right because he had friends who took a Chance on Him. 1Mil. To the Fertitta's was/is Nothing, but Dana didn't have it to purchase from Art Davies, and Look what Dana is doing to it now. Fertitta's buy it back by 2020 for less then 1 Billion.

[@miketython6554]

Jeff Lol, cause Dana is pushing the “money fighths” you’re saying the UFC has gone down in value? You’re saying in 1.5 years will be worth 1 billion from 4 billion? That’s not true. You can calculate a company’s worth and what you’re saying is complete bs.

[@Jozua86]

It was under Lorenzo's leadership that Reebok came. That is when fighters lost all their sponsors, who then went to the UFC. If you had the guts to say something about it, you lost your job. Real classy dude.

[@willthomas5953]

Yup total pos at his core. Dana's similar to. They put off the vibe like there real cool nice ppl but when u pe back the layers you quickly find out there both p. O. S. They underpay and control there fighters so hard it's unreal. They use them for millions and then kick then to the curb and act like there not important.

[@JarrettErasmus]

he is so full of it

[@SeattleMarinerMan]

Mega rich dudes get so nervous when money comes up

[@VCthaGOATdunker]

Why should he? It's a ridiculous question in the first place.

[@ebsell]

VCthaGOATdunker it's a legit question ya dumb fuck. Some fighters don't make enough in the UFC to make ends meet and have to take a job. The top is the UFC and no fighter should get paid 20 or 30 grand a fight. Their should be a minimum salary for fighters.

[@blakeb9964]

Donald COWBOY Cerrone Because they inherited it all. Easy to make money when you start out with a fortune.

[@blakeb9964]

And Dana deserves credit, not these silver spoon tools.

[@blakeb9964]

The problem with his argument about the lower ranked fighters is that even tho they'll never be stats or champions "worth" big money, they are still a necessary part of the sport. Even the lowliest guy should make enough to live on.... especially since he's putting his life on the line. $100,000/yr minimum seems fair.

[@gregjohns5235]

Personally I think the fighters should strike. See how much money the UFC makes with no fighters.

[@MrAdidas1980]

The only issue is most fighters need UFC money to survive, would I love to see them strike and get higher pay, absolutely, but most can't afford it, or it would have happened already. The only ones who can "strike" are the one's who are making millions, so why would they strike?!? It's unfortunate! But I agree with you 100%

[@ilCinismoBastardo]

that's the plan, problem is league (NBA, or in this case UFC) has way more money than the fighters and if they do that (strike, of lockout if comes from the league side) fighters' will "die of starving" way before UFC. It's like waiters, why they don't strike instead of relying on tips? Because they can't afford a strike. Lorenzo is wright, no one force them to fight, fighiting is their dream and they negotiate a deal.

[@kebabmcnugget3514]

Yea Lol and then when they come back everybody striking will be replaced slowly( Maybe not the Big stars) because dana would remember that shit

[@DavidDavid-jb1cy]

@@Recogneyez You literally are dumber than dirt if you think he's lazy. They built the league you moron

[@christophercarrigg3775]

Top guys would never strike, they're getting paid just fine. Can't have a strike without the top guys

[@AwestruckChemicals]

"I'm proud of what we pay fighters" *Immediately scratches face* Lying.......

[@SavingPrivateBob]

Maybe he just had an itchy face lol If I scratch my nose after saying I'm a man, am I actually a woman?

[@zeekot4064]

@@SavingPrivateBob lmao. According to this guy yes..

[@anonymous-it4uh]

In poker terms - that's a tell

[@UTUBE3JC]

@@anonymous-it4uh it’s a tell, sometimes. Sometimes he just scratched his face. Faces, as other parts of the body , can from time to time become itchy. But it could be a tell I don’t know this guy ehehehehe

[@rubencanales4889]

He got uncomfortable when being asked about fighters pay. He knows he's ripping off fighters.

[@JC-nt6pq]

Ruben Canales The fighter's cry because they got signed and then cry 2 fights later about pay.

[@huntergoertz6134]

You get paid what you’re worth to the company. If you’re a draw you make more money.

[@RyleyTech]

Hunter Goertz - How do you base what their worth on UFC's financial records? Oh wait they don't really release full financial records, wonder why? Maybe its because fighters are earning the crumbs from the cake while Dana is taking home 400million. Why do you think the Fertitta's sold? They knew the day was coming where the UFC wouldn't be able to force fighters into contracts, and hold them there for years. Theres a reason other professional athletes are paid far better because they get a fair slice of the cake.

[@kevinkmny]

Darchenko Then they should go fight elsewhere...

[@keisi1574]

Hunter Goertz I want to see the *best fights with the best fighters* - not fights with the most entertaining personalities.

[@fredgermain6279]

The fighters shouldn't have sponsor logos all over them. BUT SLAM THAT SHIT ALL OVER THE ARENA AND OCTOGON.... yeah that makes more sense. Just don't let that sponsorship money go to the actual fighters... WTF??!!

[@Eugenepanels]

there is a reason he sold the ufc he knows future lawsuits for this is coming the idiots who bought the ufc have no idea the kind of train wreck they bought

[@ChibiDeadPool]

HOLLYWOOD STAR explain more in depth

[@Insertnamehere287]

HOLLYWOOD STAR I honestly could see him and his brother buying it back when WME realise what a shitshow this is becoming.

[@Cheek1969]

at a bargain price too....

[@J.T.19134]

Hate the new KZbin. I said that from the gate. Buy it back by 2020 for less then 1 Billion

[@Culturedtuna1]

He makes it sound like the issue is that every fighter doesn't get a million dollars. The real issue is that a lot of fighters get like $10,000 dollars.

[@screamstation]

Not true. The minimum is 25,000

[@Culturedtuna1]

@@screamstation close enough though ya number narc lol

[@screamstation]

@@Culturedtuna1 haha

[@screamstation]

@@Culturedtuna1 haha, I think Dom Cruz or Wonderboy said the other day that the base pay even for prelim fighters is $25,000. It got better over the years. GSP said on the podcast with Steve-O that he got $9,000 for his title fight with Matt Hughes.

[@willthomas5953]

Francis ngannu the heavyweight champion of the world fight for his title against ciryl. Made 500k before taxes and paying % to trainers etc. He took home prob 2-300k and that's is dogshit. He shoudve made minimum 5-10milliin if u compare that to boxing there heavyweights are making tens of millions. The gap in fighter pay and how vastly underpaid most fighters are is b. S

[@flow7791]

The golf analogy was poor. Even on-the-fringe pro golfers have amassed over a million+ in their careers. Only a handful of fighters can say that. Pro golfers alone carry massive sponsorships, which fighters are banned from having since the Reebok deal.

[@MikeRthe1]

Left Right you are absolutely wrong. there are guys who have turned pro who havent made a fucking dime. Youre talking about the top hundred guys there are hundreds more you never hear about or get dropped after a season. Shits flimsy and its not easy to make money out there

[@yc3805]

Pierce H what u mean . If u get into pga last place gets half a mil lol

[@MikeRthe1]

x ve not even close to true dude if you miss a cut you dont make a dime last place on sunday might win 5k

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

x ve If you're talking about the PGA championship last place gets 19,000 (before taxes) and if you dont make the cut you make zero. You pay your own expenses (travel,accommodations, food etc, trainer, caddy).

[@lowkey7914]

hmm is golf a poor mans sport? Do you se guys in the projects playing it? Theese guys arent poor most of em have a good life whitout it. But combat sport on another hand is a diffrent story.

[@livefree1030]

"When we bought the UFC, I told Dana, I want to pay fighters $1 million." Bullshit. No businessman says that.

[@johndicksonkaraoke2554]

I agree with you, the Fertittas faces a Class Action Lawsuit by the fighters and sells the UFC for 4 Billion to escape getting sued, fast forward to 2021 the New Owners and Dana White failed to dismiss the Billion Dollar Lawsuit they’re taking it to the top court to try to get it thrown out and they will fail to get it thrown out and the fighters will win in the end, also Dana White and UFC Owners are fighting tooth and nail to keep the Ali Expansion Act from getting Legislated into MMA and since Donald Trump is no longer President it’s just a matter of time that it will eventually get Legislated into MMA. That’s my Prediction.

[@ChristopherAdam42]

@@johndicksonkaraoke2554 I hope so, I want to see these guys get paid, the Fertittas are the reason the UFC became untouchable in Vegas because their family literally owns the state of Nevada, which is where the UFC is based out of.

[@gabrielsilvas692]

This is a different type of business

[@crazypato3752]

​@@ChristopherAdam42how do their family own Nevada ? I thought Nevada was owned by the Cosa Nostra

[@decarlocalloway01]

There’s only one question you need to ask... What do you think the split should be between the Promotion & Fighters? 50/50? 60/40? It’s damn sure not 90/10 which is where it is now. The Fighters have no CBA, no negotiating platform, which makes the economics irrelevant.

[@eugenstukert9850]

It‘s free market baby. You can leave and choose some other promotion. In a long term, if it‘s a wrong politic, ufc will disappear. But like Lorenzo mentioned, they have now first mover advatage. Is it right, to pay for a watch 5k+? No! But a lot are buying rolex, because of the first mover advantage.

[@vitrtorbelfotrt677]

It's a free market and you just happen to buy all the competitive organizations. Yeah, sure.....

[@mactruck1156]

well that would in turn make the market free? If you founded a start-up would you like to be bought out by a larger company? Scott Coker is a wealthy man...

[@RaymunJai]

this comment is so dumb lmao

[@antoniomontesino4676]

J

[@blakeb9964]

ViTRTor BelfoTRT Yep. Glad Bellator is there and will give them legit competition soon. It's coming.

[@navigatingel6104]

@@blakeb9964 apparently they sold out cause they aren't competitive

[@stevefavell2533]

I want to pay fighters a million dollars to fight... but I just cant get past needing that second private jet. If only I didnt need a second private jet they could get paid that" " Damn that second private jet"

[@eminemishh]

UFC pays 10-15%, normal sports 50-75%.

[@JohnDoe-kj6wp]

eminemishh the ratings right now are proving the ufc can't just throw out any fighter and get results. I see the best most entertaining fighters will have a lot more bargaining power as this goes on.

[@arizonatea3734]

DC The Eyepoke Champ just like your stupid Fuck account name

[@andrewhutchins1108]

DC Pokeboy cant grasp percentages huh bud

[@MyName_Jeff]

DC The Eyepoke Champ Though I don't know if the numbers are accurate, he's talking about percentages of the total revenue. Meaning the popularity of the sport is completely irrelevant.

[@richrobb2977]

MyName Jeff the popularity of the sport is completely not irrelevant. Where do you think the revenue come's from?

[@dieselcoc]

It's funny he wouldn't even give an estimate on percentages of revenue paid to fighters...he just said "we didnt force these guys to choose fighting as there career"...sounds shady to me

[@X3.X3]

UFC rob their fighters, it’s crazy how even their superstars like mcgregor will get maybe $10M for a 3rd Nate Diaz fight and look how Conor came into boxing for one night and they blessed him with $100M...smh

[@olitost]

b00st3d BMW he gon get 30 mill for a 3rd Diaz fight....

[@mikemike6671]

MMA hasn’t been around as long, it’s still in growing stage as a sport

[@SuperMan-rl5ee]

€140 million

[@billychips5264]

b00st3d BMW blessed him with 100M 😂😂 you think any other person would make that draw ?

[@tunaburn2330]

Conor did not get 100 million

[@handtohandcombat3535]

"Im proud of what we pay fighters" LOL they pay shit and then they sell for 4 billion. Cmon. To have great fighters they need to train full time and have the best. You cant do that on 70k a year. Then you add trainers, managers ect.

[@1hasib]

hand to hand combat

[@richrobb2977]

Paying your team is usually 20 % or so. 14 k out 70. Even after taxes and fees if you can take home 35k-40k a year and not have to work a second job, and make median salary plus do what you love for a living, where's the complaint? Train, improve and move up the ranks. Like any other job. 100k-100k plus sponsors and bonuses for guys that don't sell??? Umm... where's the sense in that? Unless you have a reason to be making 500k/y + as a nobody in an organisation that relies heavily on promoting sales why should You? This isn't the nhl, mlb or nfl. The nature of the business is way different

[@dafyddcoleman4413]

@@richrobb2977 no way does youre team do it for 14k between them 😂😂 get more money on welfare

[@xTIxLyricz]

"I wanted too pay them a million dollars, but as owner of the company I have no say in it"

[@amirhussain3028]

Every top 10 fighter in all weight divisions should be paid at least 250k per year

[@shade4520]

top 5

[@jt364]

AH can you name a top 10 fighter who has stayed in the top 10 who isn't making making that if they fight?

[@marcianusvalerius1992]

AH No

[@seany32]

Per fight u mean nit per year

[@Starh]

Dana has made more money for himself than all ufc fighters in history

[@israelsrealm]

Artair Keep boot licking

[@RealJoshTv]

Graham's usual smile and giggling didn't work.. he was uncomfortable lol

[@crxerz]

this guy is a true genius bought it for a few million sold it for 4.+ billion. Genius

[@jayv8068]

dana white convinced him?

[@huwjohn5071]

How can he say it is the amount of success that links to the amount of pay when the most successful fighter today is DJ?

[@johnnieblaze1312]

WHO? and thats his point!

[@mookamoka3]

That's the difference in the mentality of fighters/consumers and the UFC - when this man says success he means marketability AND fight record. But mainly marketability...

[@RaymunJai]

because his PPV are shit! THAT'S WHY HE CHOOSES BONUS>PPV use some common sense fuckbag.

[@Michael-zi2qg]

DJ is not promoting himself very well, he has a small fanbase, and his weightclass are not in interest of the general public.. Thats why they have talking about closing the weightclass for several years.

[@oggymills133]

Huw John how he fights nobody's

[@comic6308]

Hate him or Love him, you gotta respect him. He and his brother kept Dana in check, he helped keep MMA in North America alive and he looked after his product closely much like there casinos

[@liyon316]

The major issue for the fighters is that they are unable to organize any kind of fighters' union or association. Therefore, they are at the mercy of the UFC. They get treated like employees when it suits the boss and then treated like independent contractors when it suits the boss. To be fair, it's no one's fault but the fighters. The fighters at the top don't care enough about the mid-/low-tier fighters to ever form any kind of union to benefit everyone involved and without the support of the top fighters, the mid-/low-tier fighters have zero leverage.

[@dougdemuroscolumnonautotra5591]

It's so funny watching him squirm as Graham brings up money. You want to pay the fighters a million? Is that so? So why have you personally denied top fighters(Nick Diaz) pay days & bonuses? So why does McGregor have to hold you guys hostage for more money each time when he is the most "famous"? What a joke.

[@richrobb2977]

DougDeMuro'sColumnOnAutoTrader McGregor gets paid more than anyone in the sport. 7 figures. He doesn't hold anyone hostage. He just wants it all. Tony Montana syndrome if you will. Suit and all. 😂 Since when has nick Diaz been a top fighter???

[@danmiller4960]

Dana White: I wanted to pay fighters $1

[@TheGhettoLobster]

One of the biggest issues is that the UFC took a huge portion of pay away from the fighters indirectly through their sponsorship deal with reebok. Even some mid-tier fighters were making 100k+ through sponsorships and then after reebok they got nothing coming to them.

[@camoomac7411]

Google net worth: Lorenzo Fertitta = $2billion dana white - $500million let that one sink in.

[@richrobb2977]

Fertita was rich before, he owned stationary casinos. Where do you think the funds came from to save the dying UFC brand which was 44 million in the hole. Dana white: who the hell put this together and got on spike tv and can promote the way he can? Let that one sink in.

[@lorencostello6205]

1 million?? %40 tax is now 600k after managers fees coaches fees, training camp whats the fighter left with?? meanwhile boxers are making 5- 10- 20 million per fight!!

[@colecarouba7926]

MMA is an amazing sport, at the same time some top level fighters are leaving the UFC which is by far the most dominant organization, to get paid better elsewhere. That shows how far the UFC has to go. Please compensate your best athletes before they are all gone!

[@alexlee6043]

Top 10 fighters should make at the least 100k, the champ and top 3 should make 350k and up

[@believe8263]

Because some fighters on the main card are still only getting $15,000. Nobody can live on that. The UFC makes enough just off the gate tickets to pay the fighters a lot more. The PPV income (which is huge) is on top of that. There's a reason the UFC sold for 4 billion. They are making HUGE profits off the fighters. The UFC has even bought out a lot of the competition companies to make them more powerful giving the fighters less options to fight.

[@4pl3x]

The Reebok deal really fucked the fighters over, biggest mistake the ufc ever made for the growth of the sport.

[@dtruth7094]

Ufc octagon girls make more money than the fighters.

[@YannickMMA]

This is not true is it? Even fp - prelims fighter should make more than 100x more

[@xpat73]

A fighter has to pay his coach. The he pays 40% to the tax man. These fighters have to understand that it's not worth ruining your brain - and health to take home $20 to $30k in cash per fight. Yes, if your are Conor McGregor it's worth it - but you have to understand that his whole thing is an act. He's a fighter and an actor. Not everyone has his charisma. At least top boxers are getting paid.

[@GrimmyGrim]

UFC has over 600 fighters, 11 fights a week. Your company would be bankrupt in a month.

[@ryanjohnson948es8]

Exactly they are paid good people always want more and more

[@kingleunitas5920]

Lorenzo will be missed, UFC hasn't been the same under new ownership!

[@michaelspoto8720]

Do you remember making this comment?

[@princetilapimusic]

He basically said “Fuck them Fighters! I ain’t payin y’all shit!!🙅🏽‍♂️

[@thedarkking32]

You can't go to the UFC and ask them for money without achieving anything lol what's wrong with you people ??

[@kevinp401]

"What percentage of profits should go to the fighters?" He totally ignored the question and gave a capitalism speech. We need a billionaire tax.

[@MG-ol8hs]

yep

[@danarias1289]

Chuck Liddel is the biggest joke in the UFC. Dana white made him a millionaire eventhough he was a mediocre fighter; his win fights were set up.

[@Ocelotonatiuh]

Is there proof that Liddell's fights were fixed?

[@Vietmac1993]

People need to understand that you are only getting paid what you are worth. Listen to Lorenzo. If you are champion and are selling tickets and PPVs. You will get the money you want. Should some fighters get paid more than they should, yes but you need to be able to justify your demand with actual numbers. Have a great manager and have great business sense. I will say it again, if you bring in Millions upon millions of dollars in revenues, you can justify getting millions of dollars like you want.

[@FalconMidget]

Could you say it again ?

[@Frankiestein88]

"if people want to compete with us they need to go get a license, and promote fights". Now that sounds great if UFC did not buy every promotion there is the moment they sprung up.

[@Ocelotonatiuh]

And the UFC was still better when Lorenzo was running shit.

[@yc3805]

All i got from this interview is that the dude wants to let us know that he thought about paying his fighters 1 million but he said fuck it

[@ralphmilleriii9957]

I get that you have to be a successful fighter in order to get paid, but why strip the fighters the ability to make more money by wearing their own gear? That Reebok deal is so f'd up for the average fighters.

[@richrobb2977]

Ralph Miller III that's the deal thst did it. I agree they fucked up there big time.

[@RavishingBeyond]

Michael Spinks made $13.5 million to fight Mike Tyson back in 1989, not including PPV incentives. Spinks wasn't even the biggest star in boxing. In 2021 the UFC has surpassed boxing in revenue and popularity. UFC Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman made $3 million to fight his most recent championship fight. 30 years later, less than 1/4 the pay. It's an absolute disgrace.

[@mikko3]

So lets turn UFC into boxing. Remove all the benefits and marketing UFC does and give 50% of the ppv to the champ. If you arent the champ you get food coupons just like boxing

[@peterpaul9375]

"Everybody wants to get paid more money". yeah but when the company is making hundreds of millions of dollars YOU SHOULD PAY THE FIGHTERS MORE!!!

[@sumeahsking8019]

The UFC seems like it needs a Union something similar to the baseball’s players association. Players there get taken care of and even have guaranteed money even if they get injured.

[@jasonpeterson5606]

The UFC is a monopoly until this day and the pay is extremely bad and low. Changes must be changed as soon as possible.

[@15Jogador15]

Nobody is being ripped off. Fighters can always move to another promotion. If the ufc is not paying them, what are the other ones doing?

[@djdarklyceum]

Never seen Graham so nervous and uncomfortable. He looked scared actually.. he must know about Fertittas connections.

[@hiimwayne2845]

People saying the fighters are being ripped off... This guy is giving you a job, yo. If you don't like the pay, go somewhere else. It's that easy. It's their business--they can do (and pay) whatever they like. Maybe you should start your own fighting organisation so you can pay all the fighters $10M like Conor and see how long your business lasts.

[@WhenTheyToldTheTruth]

This aged horribly

[@thedarkking32]

You can't go to the UFC and ask them for money without achieving anything lol what's wrong with you people ??

[@bertyz2463]

It's scary to think how easy making money for some people is besides true love or friend's but just imagine some people really don't have literally nothing no parents no money no love and that's is where all the hate is coming from

[@jesseascriven]

I want to like this host, but he rambles way too damn much on his questions.

[@11474403a]

jesseascriven agreed, the shows great Graham is an annoying baby faced bastard

[@midnightswim34]

He also uses the phrase..."you know..." a lot.

[@cherb23]

I agree with him. The fighters who complain about this lost fights and simply are not good enough fighters to get rich from it. The top talent gets paid big money but even the best fighters can lose 3 fights in a row and lose their earnings.

[@tope115]

4:30 The main reason you were this successful is because of your influence down in Nevada first, and second & mainly due to the almost infinite money resource (compared/in relation to back then when the business was young).

[@kuryanthomas1438]

tito and chuck liddell complained about their pay. They were definitely not 3-4 fighters who never made it. They carried the promotion through the early years.

[@Gods-bad-boy]

Hardly a single business brain in the whole comment section. These guys aren't forcing any fighter into the UFC. They show up with management teams, negotiate terms, and agree to enter that cage for the amount negotiated. Plus this is not the NFL. In the NFL the team owners determine how much they want to pay players and can pay more cause the NFL pays for marketing and other expenses. However the UFC pays for its own marketing, it's other employees (not just fighters), the venue in which they fight, etc. They have way more obligations to fulfill so the fighters can even have the opportunity.

[@personperson9570]

Anyone that's complaining about fighter are ignoring 3 key things. 1) They know what they're getting into when negotiating their deals. 2) You're going to get paid the market value and what you bring to the table. Look at Connor, Colby and Cejuedo as examples of fighters making themselves more marketable. 3) Go to another organisation or pick another sport that pays more. Stop comparing different businesses. Deal with it

[@constructivecritique4049]

Man, I betcha Graham, the interviewer, would make a great fighter. You can just tell that he has that hardcore, fighter's mentality. Yes sir, he does.......

[@truth4321]

well said lorenzo,never thought bout it like that..

[@ruthnorman1922]

It’s like this....these guys want to fight. They make the choice to fight as a career instead of working a normal job. THEY MAKE THE CHOICE. If it’s a issue then why don’t they just find a normal job that pays 30,000-50,000 and work 5-6 days a week for 50-52 weeks per year? If your a decent fighter with heart and willing to put on a show you can make much more than a normal job for just fighting twice per year. If your pretty good your gonna make a lot more than a normal job for just ONE fight. If your awesome you are gonna make some major money for several years. These guys came from making very small amounts of money just 15 years ago. Fast forward to now and look at payouts. It’s progressing and it’s making many of the fighters much more money than a normal job. End of story. Their choice.

[@willie838]

I'm torn, because I'm informed. I love that it's a monopoly because there are fewer hurdles to make mega fights happen. Boxing shoes what happen a when fighters aren't under the same umbrella. Good for the fans and owners, horribly unfair to the fighters.

[@patmax9005]

I LOVE WHAT THE FERTITTA Bro's & DANA Done For Us FANs in UFC💯% HAS TO BE RESPECTED💯%👍🌍👑

[@jasonpeterson5606]

The UFC is the big league of MMA. Awesome.

[@titanbully1]

Lorenzo as an mma fan for many many years i thank you from the bottom of my heart for msking MMA the now no.1 sport in the world .

[@kasim5037]

Its top 10 maybe Not no.1

[@nikobrenic8444]

One way to solve this problem is for the fighters to unionize. It’s how the workforce combat the ruthlessness of the Free Market.

[@marvinmanibusan2199]

Only the top 5% of boxers get paid well. The other 95% don’t. The whole UFC roster gets paid better than the other 95% of those boxers. An entry level UFC athlete starts around $6500 to show $6500 to win. Otherwise, entry level boxers sometimes don’t even get paid.

[@mkkravist11]

Bollocks as usual. Fighters at the top still earning peanuts compared to other sports. Non-star fighters can only dream of getting peanuts! No-one’s getting rich on the Reebok deal!

[@bluemystic7501]

Lorenzo is right. Don't like the pay? Go somewhere else.

[@serofibrinous]

So far in 2018 over 100 players on the PGA tour have earned over $1 million, nearly 150 have earned over $500K. Not including sponsorship money. No of players with legitimate activity on tour is sub-300, no of players with tour cards only 125. Not a great comparison. And yes there are guys on tour that hack away off and on posting no to little annual tour earnings, but this conversation is not about the bottom percenters.

[@DMoney-yi3hl]

No fighter should ever make less than 50k for stepping into the octagon

[@richrobb2977]

D. Money even the lower end boxers don't even get paid that much. Mma-25 years Boxing- 100 years plus. Principals in business cannot be manipulated just because of peoples greed. However, I don't think at this point in ufc history that anyone should be getting less than 20k show 20k win. They should tell REEBOK to fuck right off too. If a fighter can be guaranteed 40k in that years earnings plus some sponsorship money then at least it covers some tax, fees and what not. You should be making enough to say I don't have to work a day job and can afford to train full time.

[@DMoney-yi3hl]

Rich Robb boxers need to be payed better too. Anyone putting their health on the line shouldn’t get thrown peanuts while the guys in suits r million airs

[@richrobb2977]

D. Money nobody is forcing you. Thats like saying that model or actor should be living above and beyond and shouldntgive up everything they own and be malnourished overworked and tired from travelling and auditioning. Every heaven has it's hell. Every dream has it's nightmare. It's the nature of the beast. Highly competitive fields are never easy. If it is for you and your durable enough to handle it, well, we all know what hard work and perseverance gets you. If your going to complain and bitch and act like you deserve what you've never sacrificed your blood sweat and tears for, back to school you go. It sounds cold. But, again, it's the nature of the beast. Industries like this were built by and for the strong. Now If they were forced against they're will?????? Shit man your making them do things that has no beneficial value to their wants and needs, only yours. You better be compensating them with something 😆

[@DMoney-yi3hl]

Rich Robb I know they sign up for it but I’m saying they deserve more $

[@richrobb2977]

D. Money nobody's misunderstanding what you're saying. You're not listening. NOBODY DESERVES WHAT THEY HAVE NOT GENERATED IN THOSE COMPETITVE FIELDS. It's ruthless. If you don't bring the numbers, you're not living the life. The principals, just like all, cannot be be a subject of reform. Its the nature of The beast. There's people who do it for much less. Do you comprehend what I'm getting at?

[@chrisventura1881]

The mixed martial arts is diff, because its a federation. In boxing there is no league or federation. Youre on your own basically. I know theres promoters but to even get signed you need to be noticed which is a struggle in itself. UFC has positives and negatives.

[@coal1987]

The love of money is the root of all evil...

[@chrisgrieve9533]

The Reebok deal was the worst thing that ever happened to the ufc. They should go back to letting the fighters have their individual sponsors on their shorts snd t shirts. Fighters were making $100 000 + from sponsorships. The wage gap is insane in the ufc look up the pay for every event and you will see what I mean.

[@zacheryhouston4174]

The crazy part is fighters pay is still a problem if not a bigger problem in the UFC 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@monkeydotbizness]

Open markets = take our shitty pay or go to our non existent competitor

[@MR-kg9rc]

Paying a fighter a million is done and easy. Making the pay fair to all fighters is the sign of success

[@air.internetH2O]

are you gonna make everybody happy? if you say : yes. you're no businessman if you say : no. you gotta be ruthless

[@Grzegorz-i7g]

What about heavy weight champ who just left because of money LOL

[@Alex10daysago]

He is a very handsome man.

[@thedon3346]

Lorenzo seems like a solid dude.

[@toomuchtruth]

Not usually a fan of Graham but his line of questioning here was impressive.

[@rippedreaper7279]

This man and his brother almost bankrupt their father with the UFC experiment but made 4 billion out of it at the end. *When you believe in something, sky is the limit*

[@dietlamp]

If Lorenzo really wanted the fighters to have more money then he should have allowed them to keep their sponsors and not allow Reebok rob them.

[@marconico]

he's talking about millions in reference to fighters not being happy with pay. the problem is he was paying them 7k.

[@eddieedmondson4746]

Dana White is worth MORE then 1/2 BILLION dollars today, GTFOH !

[@MR-kg9rc]

You can’t compare golf and mma. The life span is shorter and risk is far higher in mma. Look after the fighters so us fans can feel better about supporting this sport

[@edmccaffrey1]

He who cared the least controls ALWAYS! In his case, he cares less than everyone around him, so it is good to be King!

[@spacemanpope1805]

Graham's so sharply dressed. Love that shirt!

[@iliaborisov1415]

In comparison to Fertitta's suit, Graham's suit is thrift store quality.

[@bh-0330]

Around 2:15 when it is revealed that fighters make 15% of the UFC's profits is about all you need to know. There is no professional sports organization, in the United States at least, that only pays out 15% of its generated revenue to the professionals.

[@tyronesart]

Comparing golfers to ufc fighters isn't quite fair lol

[@jmoneyfightfan]

I think what it comes down to is there should be a fighters union. I know if I do didn't have a union at my job I wouldn't be happy.

[@shaunbang]

This is what I don’t get about owners and CEOs saying stuff like this. You wanted to pay your employees millions but couldn’t buy at the same time you’re making multi-millions of dollars easily. I love Dana and the brothers for they’ve done for the sport but it’s clear and obvious the pay is nowhere near what other people athletes make and those guys don’t out their bodies and health on the line as much as fighters do

[@tylerjoyner96]

it’s a damn shame a lot of these ufc veterans are still fighting. they need the money

[@letitgrow1846]

The MMA landscape is full of promotions that made the mistake of overpaying their fighters and subsequently went broke. If you've ever been around regional promotions it's not uncommon for the league to not have enough money to pay their fighters immediately after the event. I do think the Reebok deal that eliminated most of the individual sponsorships was unfair though.

[@elontusk9898]

Why do people making less then 100g a year complain about how unfair it is that fighters dont get paid enough. I guarantee you they are still making significantly more than you.