The UFC is one of the most popular, if not the most popular MMA promotion in the world. As such, it is making a massive revenue and is worth billions. Having this in mind, you’d think that the fighters that basically make all this money for the promotion receive respect. You’d think that there are extra carefully selected conditions for them to be at their best at all times. However, you’d be very wrong.
Recently, one of the most popular UFC fighters in the heavyweight division, Francis Ngannou left the promotion. He had a very successful career there, basically, the UFC is why he is famous. However, as he puts it, the promotion’s lack of respect for him is one of the reasons he cannot sign the contract. Francis Ngannou leaving the UFC sparks a conversation about the way
The UFC Should Start Treating Fighters With More Respect After Francis Ngannou Left
UFC treats the fighters. People start asking if the promotion should do more to show respect for the fighters. However now, the question is whether the UFC wants to do this for its fighters. And we already have the answer – most probably not.
“Fighters always want to make more money.” – Dana White said “Boxing has absolutely been destroyed because of money and all the things that go on. It’s never gonna happen while I’m here. Believe me, these guys get paid what they’re supposed to get paid. They eat what they kill. They get a percentage of the pay-per-view buys and the money is spread out amongst all the fighters. If you don’t like it, there’s a simple solution to this problem: Go start your own MMA organization. No barrier to entry. Knock yourself out. Pay ’em whatever you want to pay ’em. People did it before. How’s it worked out for other guys? Not well. Mind your business.”
One of the biggest issues with the UFC is that the promotion is not giving a fair share of its revenue to the fighters. While other companies give somewhere in the range of 40- 60%, the UFC gives 18-25%. The UFC is a multi-billion dollar corporation. The amount of money made is brutally big. However, the fighters are taking a very tiny fraction of it. Many fighters are vocal about this. They feel like the risks that take in the octagon a far greater than what they make as compensation for it.
Another issue is the lack of job security. The UFC fighters come and go. If you attract pay-per-views you will remain in the company. However, if you don’t, the UFC cuts ties and automatically stops bothering with you. The UFC can cut fighters from their payment list at any given time. At least that is like fighters feel. This makes it difficult for them to plan their life. They don’t know when their next fight is, and they do not know if they will be able to make a living in the upcoming months.
Another great issue is medical coverage and support. The UFC is not covering medical insurance for fighters. In combat sports, injuries are very common thing. Many fighters suffer and recover from injuries acquired exactly during a UFC fight. However, they bare their expenses on their own. The UFC basically doesn’t care for its fighters once they are out of the octagon.
Dana White’s response to this is that MMA is a performance-basing sport and that fighters receive a fair amount of money. However, this response doesn’t take into consideration what UFC fighters put at stake once they enter the octagon.
