Luke Thomas and PhD candidate Aeric Koerner break down UFC fighter pay
An expert in statistical analysis examined what factors contributed to fighter pay and which didn’t; as it turns out, not everything we thought was true is.
Are you UFC fighters underpaid? If so, by how much and why? Why do some make more than others? Do the men make more than women? How much does a Strikeforce or PRIDE or WEC past make a difference? Why does a Donald Cerrone or a TJ Dillashaw or Jon Jones make more than others in their division? We know the answers to some of these questions in basic generalities, but not in great detail…until today.
In this pilot program video, Luke Thomas sat down with Aerick Koerner, a PhD candidate at American University in Washington, D.C. An expert in statistical analysis, Koerner examined what factors contributed to fighter pay and which didn’t. As it turns out, not everything we thought was true is. For example, there is no correlation between being an older fighter and making more money. Women, when examined for control factors, don’t make less than men. Fighting for a UFC belt raises fighter pay, on average, 112 percent.
Aerick takes you through his study and why he makes the conclusions that he does. This is not a video about the high earners like Jon Jones or Conor McGregor, but the rank and file who comprise upwards of 90 percent of the UFC roster.
(1:05:40 length)
