“It’s never gonna happen while I’m here. Believe me, these guys get paid what they’re supposed to get paid. They eat what they kill,” Dana White once proclaimed back in 2022, taking a jab at boxing while defending UFC fighter pay. But is he right? The UFC’s lack of transparency regarding fighter compensation has long fueled debates, and Jack Della Maddalena might have unintentionally added more fuel to the fire. The welterweight contender has launched a fundraiser to cover travel expenses for himself and his team, leaving fans to question: Why isn’t the UFC CEO stepping in?

Should a top contender have to resort to crowdfunding just to compete? Seems absurd right—a top contender crowdfunding so he can have the support he needs for a tittle fight? It seems the promotion has certain rules in place. Jack Della Maddalena is set to share the Octagon with Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 on May 10 in Montreal, Canada. Don’t get us wrong. Della Maddalena’s tickets will be covered by the UFC. But for the rest of his team? Not so much.

Why? Well, according to sources, the promotion is ready to bear the cost of anything but 6 nights’ accommodation and flights for 2… Nothing more. All of his other teammates (coaches, nutritionists, family if any) will have to bear the costs themselves, from flight tickets to accommodation. As unfair as it sounds, those are the rules and that’s the truth. So, in order to afford the expense of his entire team, the Aussie fighter is raising funds.

How? JDM and his crew are hosting a special fundraiser on April 14th at The Rivo Bar & Grill in Perth, Australia. In an Instagram post, The Rivo Bar and Grill announced that they are selling tickets to the public for an opportunity to meet rising UFC stars.

They captioned the post with a long message, but the highlights of the post are the fact that there will be a “Q&A session with longtime coach Ben Vickers and brother Josh Della also UFC stars Steve Erceg and Quillan Salkilld. The tickets will be $150 and $250 for VIP experience which will include a meet and greet with photo and signed poster. Believe it or not, the UFC do not pay for anyone.”

According to the restaurant, all of its proceeds will be used to fund Maddalena’s team of to fly to Canada.  ‘JDM’ may have found a own unique way to confront the problem, but the question remains: Should the UFC treat one of its biggest fighters this way?  The UFC fighter pay issue has been making headlines for nearly a decade, with more than 1,200 fighters suing the promotion over stringent contracts and the alleged use of influence to stifle competition.

After years of legal battles, the courts have ordered the UFC to pay a massive $375 million to former fighters who brought forth an anti-trust lawsuit, with the representative being former UFC fighter Cung Le. In short, the courts concluded that the UFC had indeed employed unfair methods in dealing with its fighters. The MMA community thought that Dana White might have learned a thing or two about taking care of his top fighters, but now they’re dejected after this incident. Let’s have a look at what the fans had to say.

Fans call out Dana White as Jack Della Maddalena raises funds for his UFC 315 trip

A social media user believes that the UFC “Should at least cover the fighter and all his corner.” The UFC may have a different policy altogether when it comes to local events. Notably, UFC athletes competing on cards at UFC APEX receive four (4) seats for friends and family to watch their fight.

According to several reports, the promotion generated a massive $1.3 billion in revenue, with only 18.6% of it going to the fighters. Going by this statistic, a fan wrote: “F—- up the ufc doesn’t pay for the team’s accommodations and flights, the ufc makes boatloads.” Furthermore, another fan called out to the UFC CEO Dana White, “@ufc @danawhite get your s— together this is crazy.”

The UFC stands at the pinnacle of MMA entertainment, with no other organization coming close in terms of viewership and revenue. However, despite its dominance, fans often criticize the promotion for its treatment of fighters, which they believe is far from satisfactory: “Biggest organisation in the world can’t pay for a team to fly out for a championship fight this is beyond a joke.”

Interestingly, a fan came forward to attack the fighter instead, “Well if money was such an issue then you should fight more, he said he was 100% healthy the middle of 2024, long before he had a fight booked, if you need more money then you should fight more”

Last but not least, a fan finally defended UFC, “I mean maybe flights for 2 is a bit crazy but you can’t expect the ufc to pay for anyone and everyone you request for your fight.”

The UFC community is divided over the debate, with one group believing that the UFC should cover the costs for the entire team, while others think the organization is right in this regard. What are your thoughts on the hubbub? State your opinion in the comments below.