Jorge Masvidal and Jon Jones aren't happy with their current compensation as they angle for big money fights in the UFC. Masvidal is the reigning BMF Champion and feels he deserves a bigger piece of the pie in his next fight -- rumored to be against UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman -- after his successful outing against Nate Diaz. Meanwhile, Jones is looking to be paid more for a potential superfight against Francis Ngannou.
Masvidal said in an interview with ESPN that UFC fighters only make 18% of the company's total revenue, which is far less than what players in the NBA, MLB, and NFL make (closer to 50%).
UFC President Dana White was asked about Masvidal's comments in the UFC 250 post-fight press conference and said, "Being the financial wizard that he is, I'm sure his numbers are correct [laughs]. We just signed a new deal with Masvidal, he just signed a new eight-fight deal. He's got seven fights left on his deal. My people were working with him and trying to get a deal done when he already has a deal. Jon Jones has seven-fights left on his deal. We just did a deal with both guys. This isn't a three-year-old deal. This was months ago."
Later in the press conference, Dana was asked why he thinks some of his highest-profile fighters are currently sitting out and asking for more money rather than fighting.
A combative White said, "How the hell do I know? I'm not talking to them. We're in a fucking pandemic and the world is going crazy right now and all these guys are like, 'I want more money.' Let me tell you what's going to happen, I'm gonna predict the future here, most of the media in this country is going to get laid off in the next several months. Everybody wants more money and nobody wants to get laid off. Nothing is normal. I am the only guy pulling off sporting events. The priority is the guys who want to fight. There are more eyeballs on the sport than ever....I don't know. I don't give a fuck. If people don't wanna fight, you don't have to fight. If you're afraid of COVID-19, stay home. I can't explain anything going on on planet earth right now. And neither can anyone else."
Dana also said that anyone who doesn't want to roll with him can "get the fuck off the bus."
Masvidal has publicly asked for his release while Jones has said that he will relinquish the UFC Light Heavyweight Title and UFC can get back to him when they are ready to pay up.
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