Is Justin Gaethje being shortchanged, or did he miss an opportunity? The UFC's massive new deal has everyone talking, but the fighters' paychecks are at the center of the storm!
It seems like Justin Gaethje might need to do a thorough check of his inbox! During his media day preparations for UFC 324, Gaethje openly expressed his skepticism about fighters receiving increased compensation following the UFC's monumental seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement to broadcast on Paramount. He lamented that despite earning 14 post-fight bonuses, his total earnings haven't yet reached the $1 million mark. Gaethje explicitly stated, "I’m not getting one dollar more [for UFC 324] than I would have if this deal did not happen." This sentiment directly challenges the notion that the new deal automatically translates to fatter wallets for the athletes.
While Gaethje was speaking his truth, UFC CEO Dana White offered a different perspective during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. White revealed that Gaethje was actually presented with a new contract offering more money before his interim title showdown with Paddy Pimblett. "Gaethje, without getting into all that stuff, Gaethje was offered more money, and Gaethje never responded," White stated. He quickly added, "[But] we’re good [with Gaethje]," indicating that despite this communication hiccup, the relationship remains intact.
White has been a consistent advocate for the idea that fighters will see a significant boost in their salaries once the new broadcast agreement with Paramount commences. This new deal, orchestrated by David Ellison's company, is reportedly more than doubling the previous payments made by ESPN under the UFC's former broadcast arrangement.
Furthermore, an increase in post-fight bonuses is also anticipated. While White hasn't specified the exact figures, the current bonus stands at $50,000. He has, however, assured that fighters will indeed benefit from this lucrative broadcast deal. This includes athletes who previously earned bonuses tied to pay-per-view sales, a system that is being phased out as UFC events will now be exclusively available on Paramount+ without any additional cost to subscribers.
"We completely have it dialed in," White confidently declared. "We’ve got really smart kids, and they can get down within single digits on how close it would be to pay them like it was a pay-per-view." This suggests a sophisticated system is in place to ensure fighters are compensated fairly, even without the traditional PPV bonus structure.
UFC 324 marks the official debut of the promotion's new broadcast partnership with Paramount. The main event features Gaethje facing off against Pimblett, with the winner set to be crowned the interim lightweight champion.
But here's where it gets interesting: While Dana White claims Gaethje was offered more money and simply didn't respond, Gaethje's public statement suggests a disconnect. Could Gaethje have missed a crucial offer, or is there a misunderstanding about what constitutes a significant pay increase in the eyes of the fighters? What are your thoughts on this situation? Do you believe the new broadcast deal will truly benefit the athletes, or are we seeing a repeat of past controversies? Share your opinions in the comments below – we'd love to hear your take!
