“The fighter minimum in the UFC is $12,500. It should be at least $50,000. If they made it $50,000, that would change the smaller fighters’ lives in a big, big, big, big way.” This is the call from YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul to UFC CEO Dana White, urging him to raise the UFC’s fighter roster pay scale so that they and their families can live more comfortably in today’s economic climate. ‘The Problem Child’ has been outspoken about the UFC’s pay structure for a while, frequently criticizing the Bossman.

At one point, Paul referred to Dana White, who has a net worth of over $500 million, as the “most selfish, capitalist motherf—er.” But is that a fair assessment? Is White the one who controls all the fighter payouts? Many have bought into this narrative, focusing their criticism solely on the head honcho. However, the issue resurfaced recently when UFC veterans Daniel Cormier and Ben Askren discussed it on YouTube. Askren, believing that “any large amount” of money White controlled attributed to him overseeing fighter pay, called him a “tyrant” with ultimate power over fighter compensation. ‘DC’, however, corrected Askren, as well as many others who criticize White.

Cormier responded, “You think that every check that comes out of the UFC or anything associated with the UFC comes from Dana White? paying everything’ …No…or the Ultimate Fighter, maybe like you get paid by Pellegian, the company that does the Ultimate Fighter instead? But like you guys all simplify everything. Tyrant—you guys all think that Dana pays everything. It’s kind of crazy, the idea of how people view the UFC.”

Ben Askren, reflecting on his own experiences, responded, “Dana does a very good job of making him seem like he is in charge of all the things.” To which Daniel Cormier replied, “Yeah, no. He can’t. It’s too big. Everything’s too big. Like, at this point, for him to do everything.”‘

‘DC’s words carry weight, especially considering that Dana White no longer wields the same power he once did under Zuffa. In 2016, WME-IMG bought the UFC from the Fertitta brothers for $4 billion, extending White’s presidency for another five years. He also received $360 million from the sale, which reflected his ownership stake in the company.  However, White’s influence diminished when Endeavor acquired full control of the UFC in 2021, leading to the UFC going public and issuing an IPO.

While White’s current stake in the promotion remains unclear, the UFC is now controlled by TKO Group Holdings (formerly Endeavor), with Ari Emanuel at the helm. This further underscores Daniel Cormier’s point. The sale of the UFC still looms over White, and its impact is undeniable. Let’s hear more from him.

Dana White reflects on the pain and heartache of the UFC sale decision

Along with the Fertitta brothers, Dana White played a crucial role in rebuilding the UFC in 2001, during a time when the organization was struggling financially and MMA had a negative reputation. The founders were determined to secure the UFC’s future, with the Bossman dedicating years of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance in his role as president and later CEO. However, by 2015, the Las Vegas casino juggernauts wanted to get out and it was at this point that the Fertittas decided to sell the promotion—a move that struck Dana White “like a ton of bricks.”

In an interview with TNT Sports, Dana White reflected on his initial reaction to the sale, admitting that although he has since accepted the decision, he was initially upset and outspoken about it. “It was horrible; I hated the sale. didn’t want to sell, but the Fertittas were ready to go. I think because I didn’t want it to happen, I didn’t think it actually would. I sort of dismissed it… I was driving to the arena for the weigh-ins when I got the call from Lorenzo Fertitta. He said, ‘The deal is on. We sold.’ I remember thinking, ‘I didn’t think it was real.’ He told me, ‘When you get to the arena, you need to sign the papers.’ I was like, ‘Oh, f–k!'”

What’s your take on Daniel Cormier’s words? Do you think Dana White’s critics should take a lesson from this when they accuse him of fighters’ lesser pay or compensation? Drop your opinion below.