Former NFL Player: MMA Pay Unlikely to Change Soon

The issue of fighter pay has once again become a hot topic, as athletes continue to push for better compensation.

NFL players won't be at the negotiating table for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) until 2030, but rumors are already circulating about potential issues the league might raise. These include the introduction of an 18-game season and financial compensation packages, especially as television rights deals continue to skyrocket each year. With every NFL athlete represented by the Players Association, numerous guaranteed rights are enshrined in the CBA, including a league minimum salary (currently $840,000 per season). A similar situation exists in other major sports leagues like the NBA or MLB, but MMA fighters operate and compete under a vastly different model, particularly concerning their pay.

This topic has gained even more traction recently, especially with former UFC fighters directly criticizing their old organization, and some athletes even declaring "I'm broke" moments after a knockout victory. But despite all the discussions about how much MMA fighters earn, former NFL player and current sports analyst Ryan Clark simply doesn't foresee any significant improvements in the near future.

"I don't think it's going to change until there are governing bodies," Clark told MMA Fighting. "In every organization, there's a small group of people who make a large portion of the decisions. Whether it's organizing matches, choosing fight venues, or determining the amount given to individual fighters. This is usually tied to how much money that particular fighter can generate for them. So, until that part of the process changes, I think it will be very difficult for fighters to alter the pay scale. Winning, and winning convincingly, will continue to be paramount for their ability to provide for their families," he added.

Clark specifically highlighted the standards NFL teams are required to adhere to, as well as the revenue sharing in the CBA, which guarantees players at least 50% of the revenue.

"That doesn't exist in MMA, and it's tough because whether you're the Cincinnati Bengals or the Kansas City Chiefs, when it comes to the CBA or negotiations, everyone is viewed the same way," Clark explained. "Let me use another analogy – there's a difference in how the Brown family [Bengals owners] spends money and how Jerry Jones [Dallas Cowboys owner] spends money. There's a difference, but when it comes to the CBA, to revenue sharing, those teams are viewed equally. As far as the salary cap goes, the Cincinnati Bengals have the same opportunity and space to pay Joe Burrow as the Dallas Cowboys have to pay Dak Prescott. Because they want that equality. That's not the case in mixed martial arts," he added.

While winning is always crucial, a fighter's ability to generate interest, sell tickets, and draw viewers to their fights significantly impacts their overall value to the organization. Conor McGregor is the biggest star in the sport's history and a former two-division UFC champion, yet he hasn't competed in five years, and his last victory was in 2020. However, that won't stop him from demanding a massive sum when he finally returns to the octagon. According to Clark, the current model for achieving true success will foster even greater competition among athletes striving for the top spot, rather than fighting for everyone below them.

"As much as we call ourselves independent contractors, in mixed martial arts, you truly are one," Clark said. "Whether it's PFL, ONE Championship, or the UFC. We've had conversations about unions, but you have to understand that if you enter this business, this is the business model. Which, I think, creates people like Conor and makes people like Sean O'Malley see Conor and say, 'I need to add that to my game.' 'I need to be that type of person to earn the money and have the level of success I want.'"

Nevertheless, Clark acknowledges that fighters generally deserve better pay due to the demands of the sport.