Cub: UFC stars should fight for our future ‘instead of crying over’ GOAT debates
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Cub Swanson and other MMA fighters want to organize.
A bunch of UFC stars have individually voiced their concerns as of late or stated concerns about fighter pay. Most notably, the last couple of weeks have seen light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and BMF titlist Jorge Masvidal both publicly clash with Dana White and ask to be released, while two-division champ Henry Cejudo retired from the sport.
Long time MMA vet Cub Swanson wants changes as well, but he believes change will only happen if the top UFC stars banded together to organize. He pointed out that the one of the rare times UFC stars actually grouped together to discuss something, was for pointless GOAT debates.
50% revenue split would be fair
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) June 5, 2020
And a pension or retirement fund
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) June 5, 2020
......and Medical for life
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) June 5, 2020
It would be nice to see the biggest names in our sport fighting for the future fighters of our sport instead of crying over who the G.O.A.T. is ♂️
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) June 5, 2020
Other fighters have recently chimed in asking for change. Former title challenger Gray Maynard joined in with Masvidal and rebutted White’s claims “anybody that doesn’t want to fight doesn’t have to fight,” pointing out how their exclusive contracts and extensions prevent them from competing anywhere else.
I’m not an independent contractor if I can’t go anywhere else to make a living. Let me go and let me see if I’m worth it @espn #supernecessary
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) June 5, 2020
You don’t have to fight, but you can’t go anywhere else and they will make sure they tack on extensions to your contract if you don’t fight who they say to fight. Lol
— Gray Maynard (@GrayMaynard) June 5, 2020
Think about this. I was only guaranteed $26k for that title fight (fight of the year), then renegotiated after only to get $42k guaranteed. Both ppv main events. No rules protecting the fighters. But you look like you’ve been in the cage and know what I mean
— Gray Maynard (@GrayMaynard) June 6, 2020
They gave me a $100k bonus. I remember a thought crossed my mind walking to the cage I was going to be broke if I lost. Because I spent $20k on my training camp. I was only guaranteed $26k. I don’t think it’s called a bonus, more like “hush money” https://t.co/EW5clAQYXu
— Gray Maynard (@GrayMaynard) June 6, 2020
Thanks brotha. Just trying to help make it right for all the guys / girls going through it now. I know guys / girls in the UFC with contracts that they actually lose money fighting for them https://t.co/7Kc2Z3lL3z
— Gray Maynard (@GrayMaynard) June 6, 2020
Other MMA fighters and UFC vets have joined in the discussion:
The system is rigged.
— Jon Fitch ☠️ (@jonfitchdotnet) June 6, 2020
.@GrayMaynard gets it.
— Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) June 5, 2020
Ali Expansion Act will change all this. Promoters will be courting fighters instead of the reverse auction we have now with fighters begging the “boss” to work.
The fighters are the product. Not the promotion. https://t.co/ZRmhoDdj5g
Full family insurance and coverage
— James Moontasri (@jmoontasri) June 6, 2020
Let's say the UFC is worth 4.2b they pay fighters 16% of that. The other 84% 3.5billion goes to the UFC. @nfl is 47-53 split @nba is 50 50@nhl is 50-50
— DaMarques Johnson (@DaMarques_UFC) June 5, 2020
UFC 16-84
I don't know shit, but one of these things is not like the other
If every fighter who complained on Twitter about pay made the trip to DC and met with congress they could change the sport and realize their true value.
— Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) June 6, 2020
Ali Expansion Act.
Promoter will no longer control rankings.
Or manage a fighter.
No long term contracts for title shots.
Dana White has been adamant about not giving fighters increases as of late. He has cited the pandemic and lack of gate revenue to suppress that fighter pay, but large ticket sales and big sponsorships never really increased fighter pay before either.
The antitrust lawsuit against the UFC, along with important reporting on the matter, has revealed a lot of financial information about the promotion. The UFC themselves estimate to pay fighters just around 17% of the revenue, and revealed plans to maintain that percentage in the future. That means that even doubling the purse of every single UFC fighter would still be a far cry from other major sports that give roughly 50% of the revenue to the athletes.
A survey from The Athletic showed that an overwhelming majority of fighters support the idea of organizing and getting the ability to collectively bargain for better purses, but they’ve yet to make actual inroads on that goal.
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