“Stop Talking About Money Unless You’re the Main Event”- Chael Sonnen Gives a Brutal Reality Check to UFC Fighters Not Named Conor McGregor or Brock Lesnar
The UFC is the market leader in MMA. The promotion that was started close to three decades back was the first MMA promotion to get on TV and build a brand around a sport that was extremely obscure at the time. Things picked up pace once Dana White and the Fertitta brothers acquired the company. Since then, the company has seen a trajectory like no other and is one of the biggest sports franchises in the world today.
However, an issue that has plagued the company since its first few events still persists to this day. The issue of fighter pay is something that has been discussed time and time again with UFC fighters publicly bashing White and his team for not paying them enough.
Chael Sonnen shares his thoughts on fighter pay in the UFC
In a recent video on his YouTube channel, former title challenger turned pundit, Chael Sonnen shared his thoughts on fighters asking for more money for their fights. He said, “You have other guys who have the same participation who aren’t yet main event. And they wanna talk about where’s the money. You want to have a real fair real or real open business it’s gotta go both ways. Gotta go both ways. Which means the promoter should be able to come back to you and say, ‘ Look at what everything I’ve done for you.”
Sonnen continued, “Look at all the events plus all the market plus all the money I’ve put in for you. I’ve done the same thing for George Saint Pierre And look at what he brought in for me. I did half of this for Brock Lesnar and look at what he brought in for me. I need a quarter of this for Conor McGregor and look at what he brought in for me. This is what I’ve done for you and you’re still not my main event. I need to reassess this contract I need you to give me some of the money back… Please stop talking about money unless you’re the main event.”
The most recent example of the same was bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling stating that he did not sign the contract to fight TJ Dillashaw as it was not a significant bump in pay for the assignment he was about to take on.
