Longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan, who has been a part of the promotion since its inception, has weighed in on the hot topic of fighter pay.
After the UFC’s seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with Paramount, followed by Zuffa’s signing of Conor Benn to a reported one-fight, $15 million deal, several fighters on the roster have pointed out that they need better contracts so that their pay gets bumped up.
Dana White has promised that everybody on the UFC’s payroll will see an increase in pay in the near future, but has not provided a specific date or timeline.
Justin Gaethje, Colby Covington, and a few others have spoken out strongly in favor of higher fighter pay, and now Joe Rogan has given his two cents on the same.
Joe Rogan on why UFC fighters must be paid more
During a recent sit-down with Dustin Poirier, Joe Rogan used how he manages his comedy clubs as an example to explain why he believes UFC fighter pay needs to increase:
I’ve always been of the opinion that fighters should be making more money, period. In the same way I run my comedy clubs, the comedians make 80% of the money. I feel like that’s who you are paying to see. You’re paying to see them. We make plenty of money, with drinks and 20% of the ticket sales. It’s enough. If we had a comedy club and there were no comedians, no one is coming, right? Nobody’s coming there just to sit and buy drinks. The whole idea is they’re paying to see someone’s work. If you fight, that’s what people are paying to see. They are paying to see fighters.”
Check out Joe Rogan’s comments below:
Joe Rogan also backed Ronda Rousey’s criticism of UFC fighter pay during the same sit-down. He added:
She [Rousey] made some good points. The most important thing is she gets the conversation out there, and it puts pressure on the UFC to pay people more.”
Rogan believes fighters like “Rowdy,” who are no longer a part of the promotion, can still put pressure on the UFC by raising awareness among fighters and forcing the promotion to pay them more.
Check out Ronda Rousey unloading on the UFC below:
However, so far, fighters have not united to demand better pay, and the major reason behind that is that top stars are content with their contracts and stay quiet, while fighters at the bottom end up suffering. At least that is what Colby Covington believes is the real reason.
Check out Colby Covington’s comments below:
