Jake Paul Calls out UFC over Fighter Pay Following Record $7.7 Billion Deal

White has consistently denied claims that UFC fighters could potentially earn more in boxing compared to competing within the promotion. However, fighters such as former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou have openly stated they made significantly more money from boxing. Ngannou compared his boxing earnings to multiple years in the UFC, highlighting the stark difference and fueling debate over salary. 

Historically, UFC’s overall revenue percentage allocated to fighters has remained low compared to other major sports leagues like the NBA or NFL. This disparity has been a constant source of criticism from the media, athletes, and fans advocating for more equitable pay structures. With the new Paramount broadcasting deal, many wonder if fighter pay structures will improve or remain stagnant despite increased revenue.

Is the new UFC model disadvantageous for the fighters?

This new agreement makes Paramount the exclusive streaming home for all UFC events, including thirteen numbered cards and thirty Fight Nights. Several events will also be on CBS, expanding UFC’s reach beyond streaming audiences to traditional broadcast television households nationwide. Notably, the deal ends the traditional pay-per-view model, making every UFC fight available at no additional cost.

For fans, this creates a more affordable experience compared to paying over seventy dollars for each major pay-per-view event. Financially, it surpasses UFC’s previous ESPN deal, which brought roughly half the annual revenue now secured under Paramount’s new arrangement. In a recent YouTube video, former UFC heavyweight fighter Brendan Schaub talked about this in detail. 

7.7 billion. That’s with a B y’all. 7.7 billion broadcast deal with paramount. Pay-per-view model will end in 2026. When they PPV model UFC were forced to build stars in order to get money based of PPV. They got rid of that model because they are done building stars. Those days are done. It’s not good, none of this is good. It’s good for Dana. It’s good for TKO and the shareholders. This is all bad for the fighters in every facet. 

Brendan Schaub via YouTube

While this is only a theory from Schaub, it certainly looks different on paper. The UFC–Paramount deal guarantees $1.1 billion annually, creating a larger revenue pool that could raise fighter purses. With the elimination of pay-per-view fees, fighters may receive larger guaranteed payouts instead of inconsistent PPV-based bonuses. 

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