Report reveals how little money UFC debutants on 12/12 contract get to take home

UFC fighter pay has been a contentious issue for many years, and the stark contrast between the company's overall value and revenue earned relative to the fighters' compensation continues to become clearer.

A recent report by MMA journalist Alex Behunin revealed that an anonymous fighter who made their debut in the promotion last year took home just $3500 of his $12000/$12000 contract.

The contract stipulates that should a fighter make it to the octagon and win the fight, he would be paid $24 000, if he lost, just $12 000. According to Behunin, the majority of his expenses came from management and coaching fees:

"Just spoke with a fighter who made his debut last year, after gyms dues, manager & coach %, he took home $3,500. He is on a 12/12 contract."

Behunin later disclosed that the fighter had lost, meaning that their coaches, corner team, and manager took home 70% of his salary. It is, however, unclear whether the fees charged by said fighter's management and coaches is an industry-standard percentage or exploitation on their part.

Behunin also revealed that the fighter has got a day job to make ends meet:

"The funny thing about people talking s**t saying for this particular fighter to get day job or a side job… He’s got one."

However, it is not just UFC debutants and unranked fighters who have had issues with fighter pay. No.6-ranked middleweight and former title challenger Paulo Costa has refused to sign a UFC contract if his fight purse isn't increased.

'Borrachinha' was meant to face Robert Whittaker in February, and the fight was even announced by the promotion. But according to Costa, he was on a contract that would see him earn $70000/$70000, the same amount of money he earned in his promotional debut in 2017.

---

Main and co-main event announced for UFC 287 in April

The UFC announced several exciting fights that will feature on the UFC 287 card in April. The event will be headlined by a rematch between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya, while Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns are set to battle in the co-main event.

Adesanya had reigned supreme over the middleweight division since becoming champion in 2019, with his only loss in MMA against Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title, before losing to Pereira.

'The Last Stylebender' was defeated by Alex Pereira twice in kickboxing prior to their fight in MMA, once via a brutal KO, which added to the drama of his win over Adesanya.

Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal have taunted one another online for several months, and are now set to face off.