A number of prominent fighters including Jon Jones, Jorge Masvidal, and Paige VanZant have argued bitterly about fighter income and the percentage of revenue that goes to the athletes in the UFC. Masvidal changed his mind when a lucrative, short-notice title fight vs. Kamaru Usman was offered. But PVZ is testing free agency, and Jones are not fighting at all at present, and asked to be released from his contract.

Former UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza, spoke recently with the ever-stellar Damon Martin for MMA Fighting, and didn’t begrudge anyone wanting more money, but also argued that fighters should be grateful for the UFC, especially during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

All power to those who want what they feel they deserve, said Esparza. I completely understand people’s want for more money, but coming from a time where fighters made only a couple hundred dollars, and currently living in a time where a majority of people are out of work and losing their businesses, I am just grateful to be with the UFC, able to fight and earn a paycheck at all.

The UFC has bent over backwards and defied all odds to be the only major sports organization to be running events. So maybe now when everyone is struggling is not the time to be asking for more, more, more, and maybe just the time to be grateful.

As a woman, before having this opportunity to get in the UFC, I don’t even know how I’m going to pay my rent. I don’t even know if I can keep doing this because financially it just doesn’t make sense as a fighter. But the UFC has given us a stage and given us opportunities like to where I can do this as a full-time career. … I’m happy that they’ve given me the opportunity to make more than I would pretty much anywhere else.

What do you think UG? Should fighters simply be grateful? With the NFL starting minimum salary at $480,000, is 12/12 unfairly low? Is a thing worth what someone will pay for it? Does the UFC enjoy an unfair monopoly or monopsony? Does the pandemic change everything?