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Despite being the most successful MMA promotion in the world, the UFC occasionally flirts with controversy. At times, it's due to the antics of certain fighters like Conor McGregor and Colby Covington. In other instances, the promotion finds itself embroiled in legal battles with former disgruntled fighters.
Mark Hunt remains the most high-profile case of a former fighter trying to sue the promotion. However, nothing has captured recent headlines regarding the promotion's conduct more than its pay structure. While there's always been scrutiny over how much Dana White pays his fighters, the interest has heightened.
In recent times, fighters from different divisions have criticized the promotion for underpaying them. Unfortunately, Dana White remains resistant to the idea of raising his fighters' salaries. Thus, the complaints are likely to continue, and this list details the complaints of five UFC fighters who want better pay.
#5. Demetrious Johnson, former UFC men's flyweight champion
Demetrious Johnson is the reigning ONE FC flyweight champion. Before plying his trade in Asia's MMA scene, he reigned supreme over the UFC men's flyweight division. Unfortunately, 'Mighty Mouse' was subjected to controversial treatment during his tenure with the American promotion.
According to the former UFC champion, he received PPV points for the first time at UFC 216 despite having first captured championship gold back in 2012. Furthermore, 'Mighty Mouse' also criticized Dana White for not offering him enough money to face T.J. Dillashaw in a proposed superfight in 2015.
White voiced his displeasure over the former flyweight champion's demand for a $2 million payday and eventually traded the 125 lbs kingpin for Ben Askren.
#4. Paulo Costa, UFC middleweight
At one point, Paulo Costa was a surging middleweight contender and even challenged Israel Adesanya for the divisional strap. Not only did the two men compete for the middleweight title, but they also pitted their then undefeated records against each other. Unfortunately, for the Brazilian bruiser, he was on the receiving end of a humiliating defeat.
In the aftermath of the loss, 'Borrachinha' began taking aim at the UFC pay structure. First, he criticized the promotion for only paying him a fight purse of $35,000 for his five-round bout with Marvin Vettori. He then followed that up by recently expressing his displeasure over his current contract.
'Borrachinha' claimed that he wouldn't fight Robert Whittaker in a rumored matchup until he received a better contract. He alleges that he was promised a superior deal by Hunter Campbell, a promotional executive.
#3. Jorge Masvidal, UFC welterweight
Jorge Masvidal has not been the easiest fighter for the promotion to negotiate with. The 'BMF' champion first ascended to superstardom after recording the fastest knockout in the promotion's history by flattening Ben Askren with a five-second flying knee. The win earned him so much attention that he was challenged by Nate Diaz. The two did battle for the "BMF" championship, which was marched to the ring by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, a pro wrestling legend and major hollywood star.
Unfortunately, 'Gamebred' felt that he was not being fairly compensated for the revenue he was generating for the promotion. He expressed his frustrations over his pay for a title fight with the then reigning welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Dana White was quick to counter his fighter's statements.
Masvidal wasted little time responding to his boss' rebuttal. He was especially affronted over being labeled an independent contractor given that he couldn't fight outside the promotion while under contract. While both parties eventually reached an agreement, it remains to be seen how content Masvidal will remain.
#2. Francis Ngannou, UFC heavyweight champion
The reigning heavyweight champion has been extremely vocal about his displeasure over his contract. The Cameroonian power-puncher has criticized the lack of freedom in the contracts he's been offered by the UFC. Despite being an independent contractor, he's unable to pursue any fights in the boxing ring.
This has been a major source of contention between the two parties. However, the amount of money he earns has also received his ire. Francis Ngannou described the sponsorship situation with the promotion as a rip-off given that it's been an enormous source of revenue for fighters in the past.
He even had a sitdown with Jake Paul to discuss potential solutions to the fighter pay issue that fighters are currently dealing with. It remains to be seen exactly how Dana White will solve this conundrum with 'The Predator' given his status as the promotion's heavyweight champion.
#1. Jon Jones, former UFC light heavyweight champion
In 2020, Jon Jones vacated his light heavyweight title after defeating Dominick Reyes in one of his closest wins to date. In the aftermath of his decision to abandon the 205 lbs division, he expressed a more solid interest in finally testing the waters at heavyweight.
At the time, 'Bones' was intent on challenging Francis Ngannou, who had not yet captured the heavyweight title. However, 'The Predator' worked his way back into title contention. After the Cameroonian knockout artist enthroned himself as the heavyweight king, interest in a bout with 'Bones' heightened.
Negotiations, however, failed. The former light heavyweight champion rejected the offer of $10 million for a matchup with Francis Ngannou, citing it as too low for a fight of that magnitude. Dana White rebutted by claiming that 'Bones' was requesting $30 million, which he felt was unreasonable.
Not long afterward, Jones took to Twitter to claim that unless someone else was speaking to White on his behalf, he made no such demand for $30 million. The two parties negotiated back and forth but nothing came of it and Jones is yet to fight.
