Former UFC Middleweight Champion shaun strickland Ahead of his main event bout on Saturday, he described the company’s pay structure as “predatory” Anthony Hernandez At UFC Fight Night in Houston.
In a prefight interview with Complex this week, Strickland, who will be making his 24th appearance in the Octagon, downplayed the significance of the UFC’s recent move to increase fight night bonuses from $50,000 to $100,000 before attacking fighter compensation overall.
“As far as pay scales go, when you compare it to any other sporting event, the UFC is the worst,” Strickland told Complex. “Athlete Salary Vs. [the UFC] Is making, there is no logic there. This is not fair. This is a hunter.”
He added: “I would like it to match any other sporting event. Any other sporting event – how much are they making, how much should we be paying. Let’s say the NFL gives 70% of its profits – I’m making this up – to its players. The UFC should do the same.”
There is no athlete collective bargaining agreement in the UFC, as fighters negotiate contracts independently. An antitrust lawsuit settled in 2025 alleged that the UFC has historically limited fighter compensation to 13% to 20% of revenue.
The UFC has repeatedly defended its record on athlete compensation, while pointing to the existence of other leagues for athletes to compete in if they wish.
Strickland, a controversial figure in MMA, stated that he believed American talent in MMA would eventually dry up due to the lack of fair pay. He argued that if someone declined the fight over objection to his salary, the UFC would find someone else willing to take less money.
Strickland said: “You’ll slowly see the American roster die off because it’s, like, outsourced to people.”
