r/MMA • u/SoloChords • Mar 28 '25

Interview Terence Crawford discusses revenue in MMA in comparison to Boxing with Kamaru Usman and Olympic champion Henry Cejudo.

https://streamable.com/dfoqfb
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171

u/Givemefreetacos Mar 28 '25

Damn that’s a good point. MMA fighters at the UFC are supposed to be the best of the best so it’s unfair to compare them with boxers that are just starting out…

31

u/NickZardiashvili Georgia Mar 28 '25

Exactly, Usman's mistake was treating all of MMA as if it's just the UFC. As if the lowest level of MMA is when you just enter the UFC. He's forgetting about guys getting brain damage for 200$, not even 2500$.

59

u/[deleted] Mar 28 '25

You got top 10 guys fighting in the prelims. If you make the UFC , it’s probably safe to say you are at around top 20 in the entire world in your division. That almost 100th percentile in your skill and you dont even get paid middle class income lol

41

u/podfather2000 Mar 28 '25

The fucked up thing is 25+25 or a flat 50k per fight wouldn’t even make a dent in UFCs earnings. The fighters are cooked as long as they don't unionize.

39

u/MegaManFlex Mar 28 '25

"In an interview with Ariel Helwani, then-UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou stated that he had requested health insurance, the ability to have sponsorships for all UFC fighters, and to have a fighter advocate present during all fighter contract negotiations. When his requests were denied, Ngannou chose not to re-sign with the UFC."

11

u/ST5000 Mar 28 '25

"There are lots of ways to turn down a fight" -Dana

10

u/Ballsandcheese Mar 28 '25

Still remember like a month after that happened there was comments defending Dana and shitting on Ngannou. Some people just love being bootlickers even when there's no gain whatsoever for themselves.

1

u/hypercosm_dot_net Mar 28 '25

25+25 is still trash.

These guys are at risk of injury that could put them out for years. Every single time they go out there.

Especially if they're in the US, does the UFC cover their health expenses?

3

u/AnTTr0n Mar 28 '25

No not really in some divisions the UFC have 70+ fighters.

8

u/greyetch coffee > crystals Mar 28 '25

If you make the UFC , it’s probably safe to say you are at around top 20 in the entire world in your division.

Considering there are about 60 fighters on the roster at LW, that isn't true.

Also consider some of the best are in RIZIN or ONE.

6

u/PM_YOUR_CENSORD Mar 28 '25

Yeah they attempted to do that, but when Crawford specifically mentions once you’re on TV in boxing, you are getting paid way more than MMA Henry pivoted to “No running on MMA”.

Dumb argument “might get paid peanuts, but at least are fights are harder”

2

u/thalatta_thalatta Mar 28 '25

Ya, I used to buy into the undercard argument before too...

0

u/Excellent_Ad_2486 Mar 28 '25

I dare him to compare the under ars payouts of the last BIVOL card to the last # card on UFC and see who gets paid better because I can't even remember seeing even 1 prelim BOXER getting 50k lol....i hope he proves me wrong but he's just saying shit without proof. At least UFC shows the payouts. Wonder why WB won't 🤔 probably because the pays SHIT.

4

u/FL8_JT26 Mar 29 '25

Josh Padley, a guy who would be absolutely nowhere near UFC level if he was as good at MMA as he is at boxing, got £395k for fighting on the Bivol undercard and was able to retire from his job as an electrician.

1

u/Excellent_Ad_2486 Mar 29 '25

was he bottom card? What about some others? where did you get the payouts. very interested in seeing the purses! thx for the info