Sterling Blasts UFC Pay Structure
Aljamain Sterling exploded over UFC's pay practices, saying "There is no negotiating" as parent company Zuffa reportedly increases spending in other areas. His remarks intensify the broader debate on fighter compensation and the balance of power between athletes and promoters.
The debate over UFC compensation is rooted in the promotion's revenue distribution. Fighters have historically received around 18-20% of revenue, a figure that stands in stark contrast to major US sports leagues like the NFL and NBA, where players' share is typically around 50%. UFC pay operates on a tiered model. Entry-level fighters can earn as little as $12,000 to show up and another $12,000 if they win. Established stars can command purses from $500,000 into the millions, with champions sometimes earning a percentage of pay-per-view sales. Performance bonuses for "Fight of the Night" or "Performance of the Night" add a standard $50,000. Sterling himself has been vocal about his financial journey, stating he started in the UFC on a contract for $8,000 to show and $8,000 to win. Even as a champion, for his title defense against Petr Yan at UFC 273, he revealed his $400,000 purse was reduced to roughly $110,000 after taxes and paying his team. These pay disputes recently culminated in a major legal settlement. In 2024, a federal judge gave preliminary approval for the UFC to pay $375 million to settle a decade-long antitrust lawsuit brought by former fighters. The lawsuit, known as Le v. Zuffa, covered fighters who competed between 2010 and 2017. They alleged the UFC's parent company used restrictive, long-term contracts and eliminated rival promotions to create a system that artificially suppressed fighter wages. The settlement will result in significant payouts for over 1,000 fighters, with 35 expected to receive over $1 million each. A second class-action lawsuit covering fighters who competed from 2017 onwards is still pending.
