Chris Eubank Jr is a prominent name in British boxing today. He has 36 professional fights to his name and has shown he has everything to succeed in the sport. Eubank Jr is a huge MMA fan, and when speaking to Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour, he talked about fighter pay.
Chris Eubank Jr On Fighter Pay
There has been a lot of talk around UFC fighter pay for a long time. Many athletes have come out to say that they are not happy with how much they get per fight. It has led to some competitors walking away from the MMA juggernaut completely. A prime example is Francis Ngannou, who left the company when he was the heavyweight champion. Eubank Jr spoke to Helwani about the lack of pay for fighters.
“It’s entertaining,” Eubank said. “I like everything about the UFC except how Dana’s monopolised it. Too this how those guys aren’t getting paid anywhere near as much as we’re making in boxing. But that’s the only downside to the sport, .”
A Balancing Act
Competitors find it challenging now because UFC has the best fighters on its roster. Yet, in some cases, companies like PFL and One Championship can pay competitors more. Eubank Jr believes it’s important to balance money and athletic challenges.
“It’s impossible [to get paid], ” Eubanks said. “In the UFC, you have a guy monopolising the entire MMA world. If you don’t accept what Dana’s giving you, goodbye. Find somewhere else to go. A perfect example is Ngannou. In boxing, you have promoters all over the world, and you have associations. Different groups are competing for the best fighters and shows. They lure them by promising payment.’ Fighters earn higher salaries due to tough competition. Yet, Dana has no rivals, so he can set any pay rate he desires. As a business, he’s cracked it.”
All quotes via Sports Illustrated
After the merger of the PFL and Bellator, it will be interesting to see what fighters want to do. One thing is for sure: it will shake up the MMA landscape.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
