Michael Page is deeply troubled by the monetary disparity between blended martial arts fighters and the organizations that contract them. The fallout between Francis Ngannou and the UFC is probably the most high-profile instance of an issue that Page sees permeating all all through the game.
Ngannou and UFC’s break up dominated the information cycle in January following a number of headlines final yr outlining monetary disputes between the 2 events. Page stated these tales ought to by no means hit the general public radar as a result of promotions ought to higher compensate disgruntled fighters.
“It’s disappointing,” Page instructed “Morning Kombat” forward of his battle towards Goiti Yamauchi at Bellator 292 on Friday. “I feel issues like that simply should not occur… You’re the largest and finest fight champion, as a result of MMA for me is the hardest sport combat-wise, and also you’re within the heavyweight division. It’s the division all people desires to see. Everyone loves seeing two massive individuals preventing. You win a belt and also you’re complaining about funds. That stuff should not even be getting out to the general public. That should not even be a narrative.
“Not solely did you get to the present, however you bought to the very best level of the present. You are the heavyweight champion of the world and also you’re complaining about funds. For me, it is a letdown for everyone I suppose… There is loads that must be achieved higher and that is not simply UFC, it is all people.”
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Documents from the UFC Antitrust Lawsuit revealed that UFC traditionally pays its fighters between 16% to twenty% of the corporate’s annual income, a steep decline from the 44.7% that Bellator pays and 50% that main sporting leagues just like the NBA and NFL pay.
The monetary stress on world-class fighters competing in main organizations is exasperated the additional you go down the cardboard. For each Ngannou, there are a whole bunch of proficient younger fighters signed to main organizations nonetheless preventing for scraps. It might not be Page’s actuality at current, but it surely’s one he sees first-hand each day.
“I feel as exhausting as we prepare to simply get to the UFC or get to those greater reveals, when you get there you should not nonetheless be struggling for a similar factor,” Page stated. “I’m watching individuals in my fitness center. Guys who come into the fitness center, prepare exhausting, they’re busting their asses as a result of they’re preventing on the identical reveals as me. Once they end their session, they must rapidly get washed and altered as a result of within the night they’ve to face by the door as a safety guard. They have to try this till six within the morning, sleep for a few hours to then get again up and prepare with us once more.
“But they’ve already made it. They’ve made it to the top of their profession and but they’re nonetheless having to do all these items. I personally suppose that is disgusting. That should not be the case. You’d by no means see an NFL participant or [soccer] participant or basketball participant get to the top and must nonetheless be working some place else simply to maintain doing what they love. To preserve doing their ardour.”
Page requires systematic change and agrees {that a} fighter union could also be crucial.
“Why are you continue to having to hustle in the identical approach when you’re there? The system would not work,” Page stated. “I feel there must be some format the place they get somewhat bit extra assist in that division.
“A union would assist all people, however on the similar time, it probably may sluggish sure issues down. So it could be a little bit of a back-and-forth earlier than you discover the stability, however yeah I assume a union simply protects us.”
