UFC’s rising star Paddy Pimblett’s days on the bare minimum contract are done. As per his manager, Cage Warriors founder, Graham Boylan the Scouser is on “big money” now.
It came as a big surprised when Pimblett revealed that he’s only earned $12,000 to show and another $12,000 to win following his latest fight at UFC London in March. That night, he successfully submitted Kazula Vargas in the first round.
Pimblett’s coming to the UFC was widely hyped by the promotion as a second coming of Conor McGregor. However, no one expected that he would receive UFC’s standard pay, especially with the hype around him.
But now, ‘The Baddy’ apparently in a much better contract with the promotion, according to his manager, Graham Boylan.
“Everybody goes into the UFC on a standard contract,” Boylan told Mirror . “There’s no difference what you do, you have to go and prove yourself. I can categorically tell you now that contract’s gone, that’s gone – he’s on f***ing big money now. It is what it is, but I’m just happy for him.”
Prior to his days in the UFC, Pimblett was once Cage Warriors featherweight champion. However, he lost the title by decision against Nad Narimani in 2017.
He also tried to become a two-division champ as he challenged for the vacant lightweight title in 2018. Unfortunately, he once again outpointed, this time against Soren Bak.
Helwani compared Pimblett’s situation to that of Conor McGregor back in 2012. McGregor was also a Cage Warriors champion coming into the UFC:
“If he [Pimblett] lost that fight, he was only getting $12,000, incredible number for a name like him,” Ariel told his audience during an episode of The MMA Hour.
“for a guy who’s making that kind of buzz, when you go back to Conor’s second fight back in 2013 against Max Holloway… Conor made $12K and $12K.”
“What that tells me is – all this talk from all these executives at the UFC is hogwash. Nothing’s evolved, nothing’s changed… nothing has changed in 9 years. It has to change!”
Helwani then condemned Boylan.
“Why are you OK with a $12K and $12K deal for a guy as big as Paddy Pimblett?… Does it have anything to do with the fact that you’ve got a great streaming deal with Fight Pass?… you don’t want to rock the boat because of one person and so the question I would wonder is, are you looking out for my best interest or you’re looking out for the best interest of your relationship with the UFC?”
Since signing with the promotion in 2021 he successfully weathered the early storm and knocked out Luigi Vendramini in the first round.
Several months later in UFC London back in March, he once again proved himself as he submitted Kazula Vargas also in the first round. Both of his UFC fights earned him additional Performance of the Night bonuses.
Now the Liverpudlian will return on July 23, taking on the tough Jordan Leavitt on the main card in London, England.