UFC champion Strickland calls fighter pay 'predatory' and warns American roster is dying

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has accused the promotion of paying fighters in a ‘predatory’ manner, warning that the financial gap between the UFC and other major sports leagues is slowly eroding the American presence on its roster.

Strickland (31-7), speaking to Complex, did not hold back in his criticism. He argued that no meaningful improvement in fighter pay has materialised despite UFC president Dana White’s claims that earnings have increased. ‘No one is getting paid more,’ Strickland said. ‘As far as the payscale, you compare it to any other sporting event, the UFC is the most f**ked up. If you compare it to athlete pay vs. what they’re making, there’s no argument there. It’s not fair, it’s predatory.’

The champion drew a direct comparison to the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, all of which pay close to 50% of their revenue to athletes. A 2012 study found the UFC paid just 18.6% of its revenue to fighters — a figure Strickland suggested has not improved significantly since.

Strickland also dismissed the prospect of meaningful change, pointing to the structural dynamic that keeps pay suppressed. ‘Does it change? No it doesn’t fking change,’ he said. ‘You say no to a fight, they will find some fking guy in some sandpit that will do it for 5k and 5k.’ He argued that the constant availability of fighters willing to accept lower purses removes any real leverage for those seeking better terms.

The consequence, in Strickland’s view, is a gradual decline in the number of American fighters competing at UFC level. ‘This is why you’re slowly gonna see the American roster die,’ he said. ‘You make more money at f**king Walmart.’

Strickland’s comments add his voice to a long-running debate over fighter pay in MMA, an issue that has gained renewed attention as the sport’s commercial profile has grown substantially in recent years.