Ex-UFC middleweight titleholder Sean Strickland labeled the organization’s remuneration framework as “exploitative” in anticipation of his headlining match this Saturday against Anthony Hernandez at UFC Fight Night in Houston.
Speaking with Complex this week in a pre-bout discussion, Strickland, set for his 24th outing inside the Octagon, minimized the importance of the UFC’s recent decision to elevate fight night incentives to $100,000 — an increase from their former worth of $50,000 — prior to criticizing athlete remuneration broadly.
“Regarding the remuneration structure, compared to virtually any other athletic competition, the UFC is exceptionally flawed,” Strickland conveyed to Complex. “The disparity between athlete earnings and the promotion’s profits presents an undeniable imbalance. It lacks equity. It’s exploitative.”
He further stated: “I merely wish for it to be on par with any other athletic contest. Whatever other athletic competitions generate should reflect our compensation. Imagine the NFL allocates 70 percent of its earnings — I’m fabricating this figure — to its athletes. The UFC ought to follow suit.”
The UFC lacks a collective bargaining agreement for its athletes, since competitors hammer out individual deals. An anti-competition legal challenge, resolved in 2025, asserted that the UFC has habitually limited combatant remuneration to between 13 and 20 percent of income.
The UFC has consistently vindicated its stance regarding athlete remuneration, simultaneously highlighting the availability of alternative organizations where athletes might contend if they opt to.
A divisive character in mixed martial arts, Strickland expressed his conviction that American combatant skill in MMA will ultimately diminish owing to insufficient equitable compensation. He contended that should any individual decline a bout due to discontent with their earnings, the UFC will simply locate another contender prepared to accept a smaller sum.
Strickland observed: “One will gradually witness the American contingent dwindle because it’s effectively obtained from external sources.”