The Economics of MMA: The Sponsorship Game
A popular fan favorite main event level fighter may make more than $100,000 every time he steps into the Octagon….
A popular fan favorite main event level fighter may make more than $100,000 every time he steps into the Octagon. Top fighters often have a yearly deal with a company like Tapout or Bad Boy, some that even pay them six figures annually. The top deals are negotiated by a handful of managers/agents, notably Dean Albrecht (Quinton Jackson, Frank Mir, Miguel Torres, Demian Maia, Joe Stevenson), Robert Roveta (Denaro Sports) and DeWayne Zinkin (Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, AKA).
Main eventers without that kind of fanbase are likely to pocket $10,000 or less from their t-shirt sponsors. That number shrinks significantly as you move down the fight card. When you reach the untelevised undercard, many fighters are lucky to get $1000, and are often paid by getting free gear and other perks from their sponsors. Short space is sold in four pieces: the crotch, the butt, and both thighs. The top agents have been able to score more than $30,000 per patch, but that’s rare. For a television fighter who isn’t a major star, the crotch and butt space are worth from $500-$2000. Each thigh ranges from $250-1500. Savvy agents can sell these spaces at a premium if they pitch it right.
A televised walk in to the arena, literally minutes of free advertising to a captive audience of hundreds of thousands of viewers, can increase t-shirt revenue for a televised fighter who isn’t yet a star from $1,500 or $3000 all the way up to $10,000.