Dana White Says Yes to Massive Bonus for Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler After Paying Max Holloway $600K at UFC 300

The historic UFC 300 may be over, but it left us with many exciting memories. One of the most memorable moments came from UFC CEO Dana White’s decision to raise the post-fight bonus from $50000 to $300000 during the pre-fight press conference. This announcement certainly made the 26 fighters on stage very happy.

This announcement also grabbed the attention of Conor McGregor and his upcoming opponent, Micahel Chandler, Even though they weren’t on the UFC 300 fight card, both seemed very happy about the news. Seeing the increased payouts, Michael Chandler reportedly saw an opportunity and approached Dana White about potentially raising the bonus for his upcoming fight against McGregor at UFC 303.

In a recent interview with YouTube personality Andy Frisella, “IRON” praised Dana White’s guts and confidence. During a pre-fight press conference, a journalist requested an increase in fight night bonuses and White readily agreed. As a result, Max Holloway received a whopping $600,000 bonus alone. “Iron” clearly sees this as a landmark win for the fighters.

He further revealed that he asked Dana White to increase the bonus for his upcoming bout at UFC 303. Chandler said, “I talked to Dana a little bit after the fights via kind of voice notes and stuff but when I was negotiating with Dana it was he and I, and he made me an offer.”

He further continued, “I asked for I think it was like 30% more you know I like Dana what’s holding you back from you know 30% more he’s like ‘You know what kid? F*** it. Done.’ And I was just like… that’s how Dana talks right, yeah?”

Moreover, Chandler’s request for a bigger bonus seems successful. His actions further emphasize the growing importance of fighter compensation in the UFC. With McGregor’s star power and the recent bonus increase setting a new precedent, Chandler’s gamble for a bigger payday could pave the way for even more lucrative opportunities for fighters in the future.

Daniel Cormier dismantles Michael Chandler’s claim

On his YouTube channel, Daniel Cormier debated Michles Chandler’s argument about needing a bonus increase for his fight with  Conor McGregor. DC believes McGregor’s star power will drive sales, so he advised Dana White against offering Chandler a share of pay-per-view sales.”I don’t know why you would give pay-per-view points to someone that’s not gonna drive the sales like, and this isn’t me hating on Mike. Mike’s not… he is exciting, but I see your point. He’s not driving the sales on this one, right?” said Cormier.

DC’s comment on his YouTube channel rekindled the controversy on fighters’ pay in the UFC. While McGregor undoubtedly boosts sales, Chandler argues for a fairer share of the profits. Chandler’s long wait for a high-profile fight, essentially gambling his career on McGregor, adds another layer to the discussion. Do fighters like Chandler deserve a bigger cut, or should superstars like McGregor get the lion’s share? This fight puts the spotlight on this ongoing controversy.