I took this thread from sherdog because I want your opinion on it.. Would do you think the minimum level pay should be for a fighter on a UFC card? I think right now its $8k to show/$8k to win. Personally, I think you have to factor in that these fighters have to pay for flights and hotels (which I think the UFC should comp up flights for up to 2 people, and one hotel room), training and sparring, and food. Then they get taxed. So you figure someone making 10k to show is walking away with what? $2-4k? Honestly, I think the UFC could afford to pay fighters a minimum of $25k/$25k. If they're fighting 3-4 times a year, that is a respectable salary.
25/25 is fair. No fighter should have to have a full-time job or a job on the side to support his UFC career. I think Jacob Volkmann is still a full time chiropractor despite having nine fights in the UFC (6-3). He's just now making 20/20.
Also I'm disinclined to believe that Zuffa doesn't pay for fighters' flights and hotels. I believe they do. IIRC they pay for the fighter and two coaches/cornermen (two double queen rooms). If they opt to take a third coach/wife/whoever they probably have to pay for that flight. Technically the UFC pays for training/sparring in the days leading up to the PPV by providing the facility if the fighters choose to use the hotel. Most local gyms are thrilled to host them and I'm sure would pay them to have them there as well. As for per diem for food and whatnot, I dunno, fighters aren't eating much in the lead-up to a fight and the coaches take a cut from the fighter pay anyway so they can do their own meals.
20/20 or 25/25 is fair, I agree with Speeds that the fighters probably get all the flight and hotel stuff covered by the UFC. 8/8 seems pretty weak, even if the UFC is giving some of the guys backstage bonuses
As I was typing it, I thought the UFC had covered flight for up to a certain amount of people and hotels, but I read a few people on sherdog saying that wasn't true. Hopefully they're wrong though. But yah, back to fighter pay. I wonder how outdated the payscale is. What were fighters getting paid back in the day of the early UFC? Is there any info on that? I don't think a minimum of 25/25 would put that much of a dent into the UFC's profits.
problem is that with injuries- there is a strong possibility u wont get a chance to fight 3 to 4 times a year. i definitely think the min to show pay should be 30 k with a win bonus of 30 k. however, i think there are too many guys on the roster and probably undeserving of a ufc contract as well.
