Win bonuses and fighter pay: what fighters say about combat sports money
Francis Ngannou, Dustin Poirier, Aljamain Sterling and Matt Serra's group talk through win bonuses or fighter pay, and Craig Jones built a tournament with more than $2 million in prize money around athlete pay. Their accounts show how the money in combat sports reaches the athletes, which fans rarely see.
How does the UFC's show-and-win pay structure work? Show answer
A fighter's purse is split in two, a show check and a win check, and the second part is paid only for a win.
What three reasons does Joe Rogan give Francis Ngannou for hating win bonuses? Show answer
Fighters lose half their pay to bad judging, elite fighters are already trying to win, and careers are short, especially when injuries cost a year.
What line does Francis Ngannou draw on bonuses? Show answer
He is fine with a bonus as a separate deal, but not with splitting his paycheck into a show part and a win part.
Why does Ngannou say there is no need to split the purse to punish a loss? Show answer
Because losing already hurts a fighter's next negotiation.
What does Dustin Poirier say the real pay issue is? Show answer
The percentage of a promotion's revenue that reaches fighters, compared with leagues like the NFL and NBA.
What is Poirier's rule about contracts? Show answer
Push for what you are worth before signing, but you can't sign a contract and then complain about it.
When does Aljamain Sterling say a bonus changed his mindset? Show answer
At UFC 300, when Dana White announced $300,000 bonuses.
Why did Sterling fight Brett Johns only four months after being knocked out? Show answer
He needed the money while subbing and coaching wrestling on expensive Long Island.
What does Craig Jones's CJI tournament pay? Show answer
$10,000 plus one dollar to every athlete for showing up and $1 million to each division winner, with nothing for second place.
What was Jones's complaint about ADCC's prize money? Show answer
He says audiences have grown since 2017 but the prize money never rose: a day-one loss paid nothing and his second-place finishes paid $6,000.
Why does Jones stream CJI for free? Show answer
He argues that things grow when presented for free, and public viewer numbers give athletes data to negotiate their own sponsorships.
Why do Rogan, Poirier and Jones each say competition between promoters helps athletes? Show answer
A second buyer for an athlete's work raises pay; Jones says ADCC began paying show money to keep athletes once CJI appeared, allegedly.