Surging UFC star speaks out on how MMA fighters risk their health for "not nearly enough financial security"

Despite rising to mainstream popularity and being the premier mixed martial arts organization in the world, the UFC has always come under fire for its low fighter pay, and rising lightweight star Terrance McKinney has today shared his views on the issue.

'T.Wrecks' rose to fame after bursting into the UFC and delivering entertaining matchups each and every time he stepped into the octagon. His most memorable fight was arguably his short-notice loss to Drew Dober, in which the prospect flew out of the traps and made the opening minutes of the round Hall-of-Fame worthy.

Terrance McKinney, like many other MMA stars, has a clear passion for fighting but believes those who put their lives on the line each and every time they compete in the cage should be treated with much better care when it comes to payment.

Check out what he had to say in this tweet below:

Whilst fighter pay has come leaps and bounds in the past decade or two, the average MMA competitor doesn't get nearly enough financial stability compared to the grueling work they go through for the viewer's entertainment.

McKinney lost his last fight, suffering a sickening flying knee knockout, but this happened after his mouthguard was knocked out, which could have caused some serious, unrepairable damage. Not only would he be dealing with a bad injury, but reports suggest he wouldn't have been backed financially by the promotion.

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Does the UFC need to pay their fighters more?

The UFC has been criticized countless times for underpaying fighters, so much so that YouTube star Jake Paul has targeted the company and has subsequently partnered with the PFL to give athletes in the sport better pay.

Although the elite fighters and champions are given a nice financial package, those who are middle-of-the-pack contenders are rumored to be fighting for a disappointing amount.

According to Paulo Costa, his contract consisted of a $70k purse, which would then double if he managed to win his fights. While this may sound like a respectable amount, the Brazilian is a former title challenger who could lose half of his money if he fails to win a bout.