TYSON FURY and Deontay Wilder’s combined purses for their trilogy fight was a staggering 25 TIMES more than the total salaries for fighters competing at UFC 270.
The issue of fighter pay in the UFC has always been a prominent one but has really come to the fore over the last six months.
And it became even more of a talking point last weekend after the California State Athletic Commission released the purses for the combatants on the UFC 270 card.
Excluding bonuses, the 22 fighters on the card took home a combined purse of £1,368,718 ($1,844,000).
The lion’s share of that figure went to defending heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and opponent Ciryl Gane, who took home £445,335 ($600,000) and £371,112 ($500,000) respectively.
Five fighters on the card – who were debutants – received only £7,421 ($10,000) for the respective fights.
The total payout for the UFC card isn’t a drop in the ocean in comparison to what Fury and Wilder pocketed for the epic trilogy fight last October.
The pair took home a combined £37m ($50m) for their final Sin City showdown – a staggering 25 times more than the total UFC 270 payout.
Ngannou’s overall purse will be topped up by his cut of pay-per-view sales, but the disclosed salaries for the UFC’s first numbered card of the year shows there’s still a huge disparity between boxing and MMA payouts.
YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul has been shining a light on the matter over the last six months.
And the former Disney star has recently acquired shares in the UFC’s parent company – Endeavour – in a bid to change the promotion’s pay structure.
Early on Tuesday morning, he tweeted: “I’ve invested in EDR (UFC) stock with my partner @geoffreywoo 2 focus on UFCs ESG standards relating to fighters.
“We believe EDR can drive long-term economic value by increasing UFC fighter pay & providing them healthcare.
“Reaching out to @EngineNo_1 to partner on this ‘Endeavour.’”
Ahead of his maiden title defence, heavyweight king Ngannou insisted he would no longer fight for the purses being offered to him.
The Predator wants to stay in the UFC but would like his contract to be amended so he’s paid more and can have the freedom to box.
He said: “The term of the contract, everything that they put into [it], they hold you like in captivity.
“You can’t do anything, you have no rights. The contract is one-sided.
“You don’t even have health insurance while you’re doing this, putting your body on the line to put on the show. Risking everything.”
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