Eddie Hearn, the prominent head of Matchroom Boxing, has openly praised the UFC's fighter compensation structure under Dana White's leadership, describing it as an 'incredible' business model. This comes at a pivotal moment for the mixed martial arts promotion, which recently secured a monumental $7.7 billion broadcast agreement with Paramount.
UFC Announces Enhanced Fighter Bonuses Ahead of Landmark Event
Just days before the highly anticipated UFC 324 event in Las Vegas, the organisation revealed significant increases to its post-fight bonus structure. The promotion informed the Sports Business Journal that it would double the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses from $50,000 to $100,000 each.
Additionally, UFC unveiled plans to introduce new $25,000 bonuses for any fighter who achieves a knockout or submission victory, provided they do not receive the aforementioned larger bonuses. These enhancements arrive as the organisation prepares for its first numbered event under the lucrative new Paramount partnership, which had sparked hopes among fans for improved fighter compensation.
Hearn's Candid Assessment of UFC's Business Model
In a revealing conversation with Ariel Helwani, Hearn expressed genuine admiration for how the UFC operates its financial model. 'As a business, it's incredible that they can get their talent to fight for those numbers, given the revenue the show generates,' Hearn remarked, according to reports from All Out Fighting.
The boxing promoter elaborated with a specific example: 'You're telling me you're generating $50 million in revenue and the main event fighters are getting $750k to $1 million? Or whatever the actual figure is. What a business. Wow.' His comments highlight the stark contrast between revenue generation and fighter compensation that has characterised discussions around UFC pay for years.
Growing Tensions and Cross-Promotional Comparisons
Hearn's observations arrive amidst increasing tensions between boxing and MMA promotions, particularly following Dana White's expansion into boxing through Zuffa Boxing, backed by Turki Alalshikh. Despite this new competitive landscape, the Matchroom chief remains unfazed, though he suspects UFC fighters might not share his calm demeanour.
The 46-year-old promoter believes UFC stars may reconsider their positions once they realise how much more White's boxers are earning through the new venture. 'I think one of the really interesting things when I look at the business is going to be how the UFC talent roster reacts to the amount of money that these guys are paying fighters,' Hearn revealed during an appearance on iFL TV.
Disparity Highlighted Through Specific Examples
Hearn pointed to UFC 324 as a prime example of the compensation disparity, noting: 'You've got Paddy the Baddy against Justin Gaethje at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday. Paramount is paying huge licensing fees. Yet, Paddy and Justin are making considerably less than a fighter that is nowhere near the draw or bringing nowhere near the commercial revenue that they are.'
While some initially interpreted Hearn's comments as comparing UFC 324 to Zuffa's inaugural event featuring Callum Walsh and Carlos Ocampo, he later clarified his position. The boxing promoter was actually contrasting some of UFC's top stars with Zuffa's recent signing, Australian boxer Jai Opetaia.
'I know what Jai's pay-per-view numbers were in Australia,' Hearn explained. 'Then you got these guys selling out the T-Mobile Arena and getting tens of millions of dollars in licensing fees... I think it's fascinating what's going to happen.'
Potential for Fighter Dissatisfaction and Industry Implications
Hearn predicts that the growing awareness of compensation differences could lead to significant unrest among UFC fighters. 'I think there will be a revolt from the UFC fighters,' he suggested. 'I think they'll be thinking, "Why are we making so much less than the boxers when the show and the business and the revenue is so much higher?"'
This commentary from one of boxing's most influential figures adds substantial weight to the ongoing debate about fighter pay across combat sports. As the UFC embarks on its new era with Paramount, and as White expands his boxing ambitions through Zuffa Boxing, the financial dynamics between promoters and athletes appear poised for potentially dramatic evolution.
The situation represents a fascinating intersection of business strategy, athlete compensation, and cross-sport competition that will undoubtedly continue to develop in the coming months, with implications for fighters, promoters, and fans across both boxing and mixed martial arts.
