UFC welterweight Champion Jack Della Maddalena has broken his silence following the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Four Corners documentary that exposed what it called “the dark side of the UFC,” taking to social media to defend the organization that has made him a star.
The Perth-based star, who holds a 18-2 professional record and has quickly risen through the UFC ranks, posted a passionate defense of the promotion on his Instagram story alongside an image of a UFC championship belt, directly addressing the critical documentary that aired earlier this week.
“I love this company and everything it’s stands for, it has brang me joy since I was 12,” Della Maddalena wrote in his social media statement. “If you don’t like the contract don’t sign it. If the bottom guys get paid as much as the top guys there would be no incentive to get to the top.”
The Four Corners investigation featured interviews with several Australian fighters including Della Maddalena, Tyson Pedro, and Bec Rawlings, examining issues around pay, health concerns, and the promotion’s business practices.
The documentary revealed that stars typically receive less than 20% of the UFC’s total revenue, according to documents uncovered during a recent class-action lawsuit. The investigation also highlighted the financial struggles many face, with some competing at a loss after factoring in training camp costs and medical expenses.
Former UFC star Nate Quarry, who was featured prominently in the documentary as a lead plaintiff in the antitrust lawsuit against the UFC, described the organization as “very vindictive,” claiming stars who speak out risk being “blacklisted” or given unfavorable matchups.
Della Maddalena’s positive experience contrasts sharply with other Australian stars featured in the documentary. Bec Rawlings described living “paycheck to paycheck” during her UFC career, while Tyson Pedro revealed that some of his training camps cost $40,000-$50,000, sometimes leaving him “in the red” even after being paid for fights.
The documentary also featured concerns about long-term health impacts, with neurological experts warning about the potential consequences of repeated head trauma.
The UFC provided a statement to Four Corners defending its practices, claiming the company “has become the gold standard for athlete health and safety in all of combat sports” and has “continually reviewed and strengthened health and safety protocols.”
