Conor McGregor & UFC Fall $8M Behind NBA Superstars as Dana White’s Fighter Pay Numbers Reveal Sad Reality

MMA has become the fastest-growing sport globally, and its popularity continues to grow. One of its major promoters, the Las Vegas-based promotion, UFC, has seen its numbers increase rapidly, with Conor McGregor being the unofficial brand ambassador and also the highest-earning fighter. Over the past few years, UFC has been going all out in competing with the big leagues across the globe, and in the same light, the UFC CEO Dana White significantly increased the pay by giving out massive bonuses during UFC 300.

However, the numbers do not seem enough to compete with other major sports, as a recent report by Pubity showed UFC way behind in the list of the top 10 highest-paid sports per year.

Where does the UFC stand on the esteemed list?

This list will probably be disappointing for UFC fans worldwide who believe that because of Conor McGregor’s status, the UFC enjoys the same high-paying status. However, they are mistaken. This list starts at number 10 with NASCAR, offering an average annual salary of $112000. This might be surprising since NASCAR has historically been known for high driver salaries. However, things seem to have changed this year.

Interestingly, the UFC didn’t crack the top, landing at number 9 with a $150,249 average annual salary. This year, basketball has emerged as the highest-paid sport in the world, with athletes receiving significantly better pay than their UFC counterparts in the form of an $8.5 average salary per annum.

Meanwhile, the UFC stars are not unknown to this massive pay-parity as last month, Sean Strickland took to his official X handle to question Dana White and the company’s capacity to compete with the NBA in terms of athlete comparison. Strickland expressed his frustration, stating: “Here’s the thing guys. UFC isn’t the NFL or the NBA it’s absolutely cutthroat. You don’t leave this sport happy or well.”

Strickland further emphasized the disparity by pointing out that the average NFL salary is around $2.8 million, whereas the average NBA salary is around $10 million. This highlights the significant gap between UFC and other major sports leagues in terms of athlete compensation. Not only the 33-year-old, but Jake Paul also once called out UFC’s comparatively lower fighter’s pay.

Jake Paul took a dig at UFC Over Fighter Compensation

In a fiery social media post in 2022, Jake Paul took another dig at UFC president Dana White and company. He blamed White and the promotion for paying their athletes the worst in the world, adding that anyone who disagrees is “one of Dana’s sheeps.” He continued, “They keep talking about selling out 21 events in a row but never talking about raising fighter pay, giving them healthcare & fair revenue split.”

Seemingly, Sean Strickland and Jake Paul are united in their criticism of the UFC’s pay structure. However, in a recent move that surprised many, Dana White responded positively to fighters’ demands at the UFC 300 press conference. He boldly increased the fight bonuses to a whopping $300,000, sending a message to critics that he’s willing to listen.

When will the UFC reach the top spot on the list of the highest-paid sports? Drop your views in the comments below.