Who cares what the poll says. You were wrong then and are wrong now. You cant determine if the UFC underpays their fighters unless you have access to their finances. That is the truth and not a damn person on here can dispute that.
UFC boss says ESPN relationship mending but still stands behind pay secrecy by John Morgan on Jan 27, 2012 at 7:30 am ET He hated the report, knew he would hate it, and told the world he hated it as soon as ESPN hit "publish." But UFC president Dana White said he's communicating again with the sports news giant since a report on fighter pay got everyone talking. White didn't characterize the nature of the talks but said, "we're working on this relationship." The report and a subsequent segment for ESPN's investigative series "Outside the Lines" questioned whether the UFC was shortchanging fighters as the promotion blossoms into a billion-dollar success story. White called ESPN "dirty" in his video blog after the story became public and saw to the release of a video response to the pieces in which several UFC fighters defend the promotion's pay practices. He also released an uncut video of UFC executive Lorenzo Fertitta that filmed the ESPN interview. On the podcast "Gross Point Blank," ESPN reporter John Barr subsequently said White was mislead or lied when he claimed ESPN producers shut down a video interview with welterweight Matt Serra when he wouldn't criticize the UFC's policies for the pay story. (Attempts by MMAjunkie.com to reach Serra were unsuccessful, and Barr declined comment.) But it appears that inroads have been made to avoid a longterm slugfest. Publicly, the response to the piece was varied with some in support of the UFC and some echoing the criticisms raised by ESPN. Multiple media outlets looked into the issue of fighter pay, including MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), and while White said he was "pretty happy" with the majority of stories on the issue, he said he would continue to attack those he felt were unfair. "The bottom line is – and I'm sitting here talking to the media – but I'm not going to put up with people's [expletive]," White said. "I'm not going to put up with people writing stories that aren't true and saying things that aren't true. I won't. I don't care who it is – ESPN or whoever." In particular, the UFC president singled out a CBS opinion piece that ran this week and said it was "not the way stories should be written." But for all the unwanted attention received as the result of the story, White continues to defend the way the UFC does business. "Are we perfect? Hell no, we're not perfect," he said. "Dude, the amount of hours we put in in a day; the amount of traveling that I'm doing this year. People from FX, FOX (and) the UFC think it's impossible for me to pull off what I'm going to pull off this year. But believe me when I tell you, it's going to [expletive] happen. I'm going to do it. "When we get stories written about us like that, and I know that sometimes it seems like I get crazy and come off too personal – well [expletive] yeah, it's personal. What you're saying is untrue. Just because we don't tell you everything – that's just the way we want to do it." To illustrate a long-held belief that an athlete's earnings shouldn't be public, White brought up the case of pro baseball player Prince Fielder, who recently signed a deal worth $214 million over nine years with the Detroit Tigers, and former boxing champ Mike Tyson, whom he's grow friendly with during the UFC's rise. "Even when we sat down and had that first FOX meeting, the guys at FOX were like, holy [expletive]," White said. "They're like, 'Why don't you plaster this everywhere? This is the thing that will put you guys over the top. This is the thing that people love to see and talk about. Look at Mike Tyson.' And I said, 'Yeah, look at Mike Tyson.' "I've had these conversations with Mike. Mike said that when his money was reported, his [expletive] life was miserable. I'm not doing it. "So just because you don't know everything, you don't have to know anything, and to be honest with you? It's none of your [expletive] business how much these guys are making. They're making a lot of money. And it's all the fans. You want to be a fan of the sport and you love your guys? Cool. Support them. How much money is none of your business. I'm not asking how much money you're making." White reiterated Fertitta's assertion that fighters signed to UFC and Strikeforce parent company Zuffa have the right to look at the company's books. He talked tough about an FTC investigation revealed in the ESPN piece that Fertitta said was triggered by Zuffa's purchase this past March of rival promotion Strikeforce. "There has never been a sport that's been more scrutinized about everything – about the style of fighting that it is – it's brutal, it's this, it's that," White said. "And now that the thing keeps getting bigger and bigger – there's so much [expletive] that goes on behind the scenes that you guys don't know about? Do you know how many [expletive] people are coming after us every day? We're still here. Because everything we do is on the up-and-up. "People love to come at us with the negative [expletive] – like Lorenzo said, this is the greatest sports story in the last 50 years. So it is what it is. We're going to do it the way that we do it, the way that we want to do it, no matter who says what, no matter who does what. If the government wants to come in and look inside, take a peek and look around – more than welcome. "Many of you have heard stories and all kinds of things – mark my [expletive] words, right here, right now, today: We're not going anywhere." Nor is ESPN. It remains to be seen if the Goliaths make amends.
well unless they are forced out llike with Overeem who made 2mil+ for this fight with Brock. Or GSP who spilled who apparently told someone he made 5 mil.
Ah yes, hearsay. Always reliable. I don't watch mma and mainly read threads here but not get involved. Something about the clandestine manner the finances are handled, coupled with the blind faith normally rational posters have in this particular company, compels me to keep asking questions. Though I know nothing about the man, the fact that he refers to piracy as stealing and supports SOPA makes Dana White a cunt. That and him bringing up boxing when it suits him but not at times when it would destroy his arguements. Kinda like those posters I was talking about earlier.
The Overeem figure isnt hearsay. It's fact. And since Overeem isnt even close to the attraction that GSP is, GSP making 3 million more than him isnt really out of the question.
Again, as long as the UFC manages to keep the best fighters and put out an amazing product, why should we bitch and moan that we don't know how much they pay fighters. I can imagine walking into my office and seeing everyone's salary posted on the bulletin board. Would that make a better work environment? Probably not. It's guys like Mike that just know they should hate Dana White for some reason and since fighter's pay is an unknown, they focus on that.
Well it's just the times we live in. Bitch at the amount of money NFL players, Basketball Players, Baseball players, Mayweather, Pac make and then bitch when people in the UFC dont make that much.
Amazing product? I stopped watching after i watched at least 4 garbage cards in a row last year. A lot of other people did as well, the ppv numbers are down and less and less bars are showing their product.
Not at all my friend. I did not quote you nor did TRP, in which i responded. It's clear who we are talking about. Mike.
Not sure where you are at, RJJ, but several bars around me have UFC ppv's and its standing room only. I must admit, I don't care for the amount of PPV's that are put on. I would like more free fights, but then again, we will get plenty of that on Fox and FX.
I follow boxing and the one thing I hate about boxing in general is that alot of boxers end up broke and destitute. Not small names or mid carders either. This probably colours my view of posts like yours and Anthony's where you appear to argue against paying the fighters more.
We dont argue paying fighters more. At least i know i dont. I argue paying fighters 30 mil for a fight. I mean look seriously. If paying fighters so much would result in them not being Broke, Mike Tyson wouldnt be poor. It's not about how much you make, it's about how you handle your finances. That being said, the UFC does mandatory seminars for fighters on how to handle their finances. Something many boxers could benefit from. I have no problem with fighters making more money if the money is available. I just dont know if i is or isnt. I dont have access to the UFC (a private company) finances. If GSP is making 5 million, Brock was probably making 10. And if 5-10 mil for a fight is too little, then i dont know what to tell you.
Well shit, with solid data like that how can I argue. Oh, I know, with facts. In 2011 amazing product like Henderson-Rua, Penn-Diaz, Edgar-Maynard II, Diaz-Daley, Sanchez-Kampman, Aldo-Hominck, Barry-Kongo, Edgar-Maynard III, Cruz-Faber II, Jones-Rua, Henderson-Guida, Phan-Garcia, Lytle-Hardy, Herman-Einemo, Mir-Nog II. I could go on and on , but you get the point. There were a shitload of great fights last year hence it being an AMAZING product.
He said between 4 and 5 million and he didn't clarify that it all came from the UFC. He said a fight is worth between 4-5 million to him.
I don't have the cheerleader mentality that you do--If I'm happy, all's well. There is a bigger picture and I apparently and obviously put fighters' interests much higher up my give-a-shit scale than you do. I don't hate Dana at all. I think he and the Feritta's fuck their fighters and take advantage of a system that is not available to boxers because it is inherently an unfair system. That isn't the UFC's fault, however. What is their 'fault' is underpaying their fighters. No one is making them take advantage of their monopoly position. Some take your side--hey, it's a business and fuck the fighters. If they aren't happy, don't fight. Others feel that the UFC should not abuse their position when it comes to fighter pay and should be far closer to payouts resembling what happens in boxing than that they are doing. Still others don't comprehend that you can be paid $2 million dollars for a fight and still be underpaid.
Yet there you were in the UFC on Fox thread talking about what garbage it was. You're saying you didn't watch it? :giggle:
All of this wasted typing and anger yet you still really have no idea IF the UFC is under paying their fighters. No idea.
$4-5 million per fight for Georges St. Pierre is underpaying him. $80k per year to Roop for 3 televised fights is underpaying him. You can talk all the bullshit as you go into shill mode about not knowing the UFC's expenses, but there is a reason everyone says the UFC is worth over a billion dollars and it's not because they've got 'expenses' that will miraculously provide justification for this type of screw job if they were just known to us.
Again, you have no idea if those figures are accurate and whether they are too much or too little. No idea. And George Roop has a career record of 12-9-1 and is 2-5 in the UFC. He's lucky he doesn't have to pay the UFC to fight. I don't need any of UFC's financial data to make that stab in the dark. :: (Oh, and one of Roop's fights last year was on Facebook.. Is that really 'televised'???? And he's only been on 1 UFC PPV event in his UFC career.) Mike, seriously bro, dumber by the post.
Those numbers are quotes from the fighters themselves. You know it. I wouldn't count the facebook fight, but I think it was telecast during the main event later, wasn't it? I am pretty sure I remember seeing all of Roop's fights last year and I never watched anything on facebook. Your desire to denigrate what fighters bring to the UFC demonstrates your bias. You are a UFC shill and you strive to be seen as objective when it is obvious you are anything but. Continue to toe the line along with your fellow shill, Anthony. You are not fooling anyone.
Yeah Roop also said: Sounds like you disagree with Roop. Roop at least understands that he has an incentive to work harder and try to win fights. If you were managing the UFC he could lose 5 of 7 fights, make millions, and then the company goes out of business but Mike's a fair guy. What a joke.
Seems to me that you are willing to accept Roop's statements as accurate now? Also seems to me that you've decided to shift the argument to one fighter's thoughts on the acceptability of his pay rather than focus on whether or not he is objectively being paid a fair amount. The reason you are doing this is because you lose the argument straight up so it's time to try to shuffle things around. Then you put forth a straw man about how I would manage the UFC. Coincidentally, arguing with yourself is the only time you are making any valid points.
Dude, please I've literally wiped the floor with your ass in this conversation. You brought up Roop's name and I used his own quote to spank your ass again. You've got nothing to bring in this debate except your personal feelings. And you look like an utter simpleton as a result. Again, you have absolutely NO IDEA what UFC should be paid. You just don't.
Sure I do. Much closer to what fighters make in similar boxing ppv's, perhaps even more, but at least a lot closer than what they currently make. The fighters have made the UFC what it is. The fighters haven't been paid accordingly. Roop making $80,000 for 3 ppv card appearances is pathetic whether he or you realize it or not.
