Dana White talks Roy Nelson, fighter salaries

[MikeSawyer]

Dana talks about Roy (maybe he can fight him if Shane gets injured) and talks about fighter pay.

http://blog.toughtalkmma.com/2012/09/15/dana-white-talks-roy-nelson-fighter-salaries.aspx

[Leiting]

I like how Dana casually tacked on at the end some comment about how the media would be upset to hear some fighter was making $10 million and they fought like that. It was a nice little way to subtly suggesting it was in that ballpark. I'm sorry, I don't believe any fighter, in any promotion, has ever made $10 million from a single fight. I simply don't believe it. Now I could be wrong, but I would be absolutely blown away by even someone like Anderson or Jones making anywhere north of $5 million. Which allow me to clarify, is no small amount of money. That is nothing to thumb your nose at. And then outside the UFC, I think Fedor's made quite a bit of money for single events, but that's in no small part due to his insane profit participation of all M-1 Global events. But I don't buy that.

 

I agree with most of what Dana said in the interview, I just happen to think that was an inflated number that was thrown out there. Although he and others in the UFC have long since said that "you won't believe" how much some of the top talent is really making - so maybe they're right - maybe I just wouldn't believe it.

[classicboxer]

I like how Dana casually tacked on at the end some comment about how the media would be upset to hear some fighter was making $10 million and they fought like that. It was a nice little way to subtly suggesting it was in that ballpark. I'm sorry' date=' I don't believe any fighter, in any promotion, has ever made $10 million from a single fight. I simply don't believe it. Now I could be wrong, but I would be absolutely blown away by even someone like Anderson or Jones making anywhere north of $5 million. Which allow me to clarify, is no small amount of money. That is nothing to thumb your nose at. And then outside the UFC, I think Fedor's made quite a bit of money for single events, but that's in no small part due to his insane profit participation of all M-1 Global events. But I don't buy that.

 

I agree with most of what Dana said in the interview, I just happen to think that was an inflated number that was thrown out there. Although he and others in the UFC have long since said that "you won't believe" how much some of the top talent is really making - so maybe they're right - maybe I just wouldn't believe it.[/quote']

 

It's like Romney's tax returns- why wouldn't they make it public?

[MMAEars]

It's like Romney's tax returns- why wouldn't they make it public?

 

or Obama's college transcripts. Why wouldn't they make them public?

[Leiting]

Thought Dana was just BS'ing a response to the special ESPN ran on fighter pay until I saw Koscheck and Bispings houses recently. I think fighters' date=' especially fighters that promote fights like the above mentioned fighters get compensated way more than we know.[/quote']

 

I saw the Ultimate Insider segment with Kos' home. That was a very lovely house indeed, but in no way was it beyond imagination. Kos makes I believe somewhere in the 80k to fight, and 80k to win category. That means if he fights 2 times a year, and wins only once, he still makes $240,000 in one year. And that's just for purses, not counting endorsement deals, or fight night bonuses. AND, that assuming a pretty light schedule of 2 fights a year.

 

His house, that lifestyle, it's easily affordable when you're looking at making $300,000+ a year. And that's overlooking, he's main evented and co-main evented were they are entitled to a percentage of the PPV net.

 

I would guess Kos probably has a net worth of the $1-2 million range. And he's one of the bigger names, and does more for promotional consideration than your average fighter, and has been around the UFC since 2005. He's had quite a lot of time to amass his small fortune. Even guys like Brock Lesnar to this day are probably sitting around $10-15 million bench mark. That is impressive, and more than enough to be compensated for their efforts. And more than most boxers will ever hope to have. But, like I said, ten million dollars for a single MMA fight? I don't think so. I would be shocked to find out any fighter has ever earned more than $5 million for a single bout - purse, endorsements, fight night and locker room bonuses included.

[classicboxer]

or Obama's college transcripts. Why wouldn't they make them public?

 

Or Obama's birth certificate?

[BruteDion]

I doubt they make that much...an outside company did a breakdown of the top fighters worth and Jon Jones was only 8 million...GSP was higher and I believe so was Anderson but not by much

 

If guys are making 10 million then they live a crazy expensive life style to where the earn 10 mill but are only with 8 million

 

And even if that was the case (which its not) then guys who are good names but lower ranked should be paid a lil more so they don't struggle as much...you got guys like pat barry almost getting evicted from an apartment,Jon fitch being late on mortgage,Jason McDonald retiring cus he can make more at a prison...if the true top guys make 10 million a fight...the mid tier guys should not be struggling like that

[RogerJones620]

Chael only made $50K for the Silva / Sonnen 2 fight? Are you kidding me? I would rather work a civilian job than do that ****. Even if I was the most talented fighter on the planet, I can't even make my mortgage on that kind of money. You almost have to come from the ghetto for this type of money to be enticing because most fighters are lucky to get 2 fights a year.

 

EDIT: Think it's funny that Dana White says that by not paying fighters a lot that he is protecting them. "Mike Tyson got paid a lot, and the scavengers came out and he went bankrupt." I think I'm going to use that ideology the next time one of my employees asks for a raise. "You don't want to start making more money, because then some gold digging woman might want to marry you. Trust me, I'm doing you a favor."