The earnings for MMA fighters have always generated controversy given how much they differ from other professional sports, and how high risk the sport is.
Few have a decent salary for an activity that involves a lot of physical and mental demands, and the absence of a union prevents fighters from fighting for decent wages.
In other professional leagues such as the NFL, players have a minimum salary of $750,000 per season, that is, $44,117 for each regular season game, while in the MLB the minimum is $720,000.
In the UFC, the average salary is only $12,000 dollars per fight, and the winner gets $12,000 more.
The PFL changed the perspective of fighters and their earnings
According to Sporting News, with the birth of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), the income for each fighter has improved a little, with two fighters reaching $100,000 per fight, such as Movlid Khaybulaev and Bubba Jenkins.
The UFC’s fighter salaries have generated controversy, to the extent that Bellator, ONE and some other promotions have tried to give a better income to their fighters.
Now, the PFL is trying to change the rules thanks to investors like former Major League Baseball player Alex Rodriguez, who are looking to keep their fighters happy.
“The PFL business is exactly what sports investors are looking for. We’ve proven that we can get top-tier athletes. We’ve proven we can secure global media distribution. And we’ve proven that we have dozens of leading advertisers,” PFL founder Donn Davis told Forbes.
PFL gives its champions up to $1 million
The PFL and its new tournament format can guarantee a fighter earnings of up to $1 million dollars if they win the finals.
In addition to the $1 million, fighters earn a separate salary, which has allowed fighters to look to the PFL for the salary they want to receive.
For example, Shane Burgos joined UFC in 2016 and had an 8-3 record with the promotion before signing with the PFL, and Burgos revealed a difference between his last fight contract and his current one.
“Aside from the $1 million for winning the finale, my money per fight is phenomenal. I’m making a lot more money; it takes about four UFC fights, with the show and making money, to make what I make for a PFL fight,” Burgos explained to Cageside Press.
“So it was almost a no-brainer as far as the money was concerned. It was hard, it wasn’t an easy decision, obviously, because I loved the UFC, I loved fighting for UFC, I loved the organization, I loved saying I was fighting for the UFC.
“But at the end of the day, I have to look myself in the mirror, I have to look my wife in the face and my kids and tell them this shit was worth it. The money I’m making now, there’s no doubt it’s going to be worth it.”
Burgos won $100,000 by defeating Yamato Nishikawa in PFL 6.