Sean Strickland is a vocal figure in the MMA community and has ignited a fervent debate surrounding UFC compensation. His recent social media posts dissect the promotion’s pay structure, shedding light on the financial challenges faced by UFC athletes.
In a series of candid social media posts, Strickland used social media to discuss the impending Road House adaptation. The movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a UFC contender who works as a bouncer. His first post implied that the movie was accurate, implying that most UFC competitors suffer a similar fate.
Strickland wrote: “Road house 2 is the most accurate story ever……UFC fighter to broke bouncer…
90 percent of the current rosters future lol”
This bold statement opened the floodgates to a broader discussion on the financial struggles faced by UFC athletes, setting the stage for an engaging dialogue within the MMA community.
Commenting on the apparent discrepancy between UFC pay and expenditure on non-competitors, a fan brought up the incident in which UFC CEO Dana White allegedly gave social media star Kyle Forgeard of the Nelk Boys a $250,000 cash present.
He said: “Dana’s too busy throwing wads of cash at the Nelk boys”
Strickland responded with a touch of sarcasm, acknowledging the fan’s point:
He posted: “Lmao! So true.. “here’s 250k nelk boys”
“Would you like to get signed? How does 12-12 sound. Can’t go a dollar more”
This isn’t the UFC or Dana’s fault. We’re grown ass men and we chose this path. It’s just good to be open about how soul sucking this sport is for most.”
The debate surrounding pay in the UFC rages on, with notable figures like Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones advocating for a more substantial share of the organization’s revenue. Despite the clamor for change, UFC CEO Dana White staunchly defends the existing system.
Critics argue that competitors deserve a more equitable portion of the profits generated by their performances. They emphasize the inherent risks contenders undertake in the octagon while the UFC reaps significant financial rewards.
White contends that the current performance-based pay model serves as a strong incentive for contenders. He argues against guaranteeing high salaries, citing potential drawbacks such as less exciting matches and reduced motivation. To support his stance, White points to the successful career of veteran UFC contender Jim Miller.
“We’ve got a guy right now who’s 40 years old, and he’s on this hot streak, man. He’s been around forever… He’s been around since we bought this company, and he’s still fighting… He’s going to fight on UFC 300. And this is a guy who’s been, you know, I guess you could call him a journeyman in boxing, right? If you ask most people, they wouldn’t know who Jim Miller is, and the guy’s made millions of dollars.”