Vadim Nemkov says UFC fighters get 'mere pennies' despite huge revenue
· Yahoo Sports
Vadim
Nemkov wants to be financially secure after hanging up his
gloves.
Nemkov (20-2, 1 NC) recently criticized fighter pay in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The Professional Fighters League heavyweight champion believes UFC athletes receive too little of the promotion’s revenue and deserve greater compensation for the risks to their health.
Without naming anyone, Nemkov recalled seeing retired UFC fighters at an event whose appearance suggested to him that they were struggling financially. He said earning potential was a major reason he didn’t sign with the UFC.
“The UFC is a huge money-making machine, so to speak,” Nemkov told Ushatayka. “There are massive sums involved, and the fighters get paid mere pennies. Those who put on the show, those who make the fights happen, they should be earning much more because of the heavy toll on their health. It’s very sad to look at fighters who have ended their career, fought in the UFC, and then can’t find their way and live very meager lives. Because I was having a fight once, there were veterans of MMA; there were a lot of them and half of them looked like regular blue-collar workers in worn-out shirts. [That’s why I didn’t sign with the UFC] For the most part. I mean, when you can, roughly speaking, earn twice as much here. If I fight here once, there I would have to fight three times.”
A heavyweight title fight headlines PFL Dubai: Tune in on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. ET on the ESPN app.
Nemkov (20-2, 1 NC) recently criticized fighter pay in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The Professional Fighters League heavyweight champion believes UFC athletes receive too little of the promotion’s revenue and deserve greater compensation for the risks to their health.
PFL heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov explains why UFC fighter pay influenced his decision not to sign
Without naming anyone, Nemkov recalled seeing retired UFC fighters at an event whose appearance suggested to him that they were struggling financially. He said earning potential was a major reason he didn’t sign with the UFC.
“The UFC is a huge money-making machine, so to speak,” Nemkov told Ushatayka. “There are massive sums involved, and the fighters get paid mere pennies. Those who put on the show, those who make the fights happen, they should be earning much more because of the heavy toll on their health. It’s very sad to look at fighters who have ended their career, fought in the UFC, and then can’t find their way and live very meager lives. Because I was having a fight once, there were veterans of MMA; there were a lot of them and half of them looked like regular blue-collar workers in worn-out shirts. [That’s why I didn’t sign with the UFC] For the most part. I mean, when you can, roughly speaking, earn twice as much here. If I fight here once, there I would have to fight three times.”
A heavyweight title fight headlines PFL Dubai: Tune in on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. ET on the ESPN app.
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