Unlike many other sports, women can make just as much money as men in the UFC. And in some cases, a whole lot more.
Debates over the pay disparity between men and women have been raging on for some time, but it’s recently become a hot-button issue in athletics after WNBA star Caitlin Clark reportedly banked a measly $76,000 for her rookie year despite being the league’s top draw.
In the UFC, you won’t find that problem.
“The women make just as much money as the men do,” UFC CEO Dana White said during an appearance on the Straight Talk podcast. “When you look at the UFC, it’s very real and very fair.
“The WNBA in the United States right now, tennis, golf, all these other things, when Ronda Rousey was here, Ronda Rousey made more money than everybody until Conor McGregor hit the scene. She was the highest-paid athlete in the company because she brought in the most money.”
The fastest submission in UFC history 🤯#OnThisDay in 2015, Ronda Rousey only needed 14 SECONDS to get the tap from Cat Zingano
Watch all of her bouts back with @UFCFightPass! pic.twitter.com/jFztBA25U3
— UFC on This Day (@UFConThisDay) February 28, 2023
Of course, it takes something truly special to reach the level of a Conor McGregor or a Ronda Rousey. While the UFC has seen its fair share of needle-moving stars from various countries, becoming a global icon is the ultimate goal.
“The business is star-driven,” White said. “We had Georges St-Pierre from Canada who ignited that entire country. Brandon Moreno from down in Mexico. Zhang Weili, who’s fighting here this weekend. [Alexander] Volkanovski and [Israel Adesanya] from [Australia], so it’s very star-driven and when you have Conor McGregor or Ronda Rousey who are globally big superstars, that’s what grows the sport. That’s what makes people jump on board who might not have followed the UFC.”
Dana White Refuses to Keep UFC Fighters From Being Who They Truly Are, For Better or Worse
Part of what’s made fighters so successful — outside of their skills inside the Octagon — is their unique personalities. Most professional sports organizations have strict rules on what an athlete can say without facing some sort of consequence. Bucking tradition, the UFC opts to give its athletes free reign to say whatever they want without fear of fine or retaliation.
Sometimes, that path leads to fighters becoming massive stars for the organization. And then sometimes you end up with Bryce Mitchell.
“We don’t stop them from being whoever they are,” White added. “Sometimes it’s good. Sometimes it’s not so good, but it is what it is. These are all grown men and women who have their own opinions. We don’t tell anybody what to say, or what not to say. They all have their own personalities. Whoever you are, that’s what I’m selling.”
Watch the full podcast episode below:
