Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland referred to the organization’s pay structure as “predatory” ahead of his main event fight against Anthony Hernandez at UFC Fight Night in Houston on Saturday.
In a prefight interview with Complex this week, Strickland, making his 24th appearance in the Octagon, dismissed the impact of the UFC’s recent decision to raise fight night bonuses to $100,000 from $50,000 before criticizing the overall compensation for fighters.
“Regarding the pay scale, when you compare it with any other sports event, the UFC is the most messed up,” Strickland shared with Complex. “The ratio of athlete pay to what [the UFC] earns is indisputable. It’s inequitable. It’s predatory.”
He added: “I would like the pay to align with any other sporting event. For instance, if the NFL allocates 70% of its profits — just an example — to their players, the UFC should be doing the same.”
In the UFC, there is no collective bargaining agreement for athletes, as fighters independently negotiate their contracts. An antitrust lawsuit settled in 2025 claimed that the UFC historically limited fighter compensation to 13% to 20% of revenue.
The UFC has consistently defended its record on athlete pay while highlighting the existence of alternative leagues for athletes who wish to compete elsewhere.
Strickland, a divisive figure in MMA, expressed his concern that the pool of American talent in MMA may eventually diminish due to inadequate pay. He argued that if anyone declines a fight due to pay issues, the UFC will simply find someone else willing to accept lower compensation.
Strickland concluded: “You’re gradually going to see the American roster dwindle because it’s being replaced by others.”
