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Jared Cannonier is among the top-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweights and he wants fighters’ pay to align more with that of other elite athletes.
Cannonier (No.3) expressed his financial struggles following a unanimous decision victory over Kelvin Gastelum (review here) at UFC Vegas 34, which took place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday August 7. 20. In a follow-up interview, “The Killa Gorilla” expanded on her situation.
“It’s not terrible, it’s just a natural occurrence if you will,” Cannonier said. MMA time‘s Ariel Helwani on his financial situation (h / t MMA Fighting). “Of course after my injury I don’t lose control or anything like that, and a lot of people don’t understand that when we have these fights we owe people money after these fights. After this victory, 60 percent of my money is already gone. Between the gym, between management, between taxes, plus I have bills, credit cards, I have kids, I have a house in Alaska, I have a house here, I have a car Payments. This money goes. Money doesn’t last forever.
“Right now, the fighting is our only income. I don’t have any sponsors or anything like that. The fight is my only objective. I’m not here to advertise or anything like that. No one is asking me to be in the next Marvel movie. Not being able to fight for the past 10 months has put a strain on our pockets. So I’m glad I came back. Glad I received two checks plus this bonus from the main event. I’m glad I didn’t get hurt so I could start over.
Cannonier expressed appreciation for the UFC paycheck, but said the money didn’t extend far enough.
“I’m not here to say the UFC doesn’t pay me,” Cannonier said. “Because I’m pretty well paid by the UFC. It’s just that the money doesn’t last forever. I’m not here losing control, I’m not splurging or anything like that. I’m not stupid, I don’t spend my money on stupid stuff but it’s just life I guess. I would like to be paid.
“I am an elite level athlete. I would like to be paid like a top athlete. Like the one who’s in the NFL and the NBA and the one who plays baseball and football and does all that. They get sponsors, but they don’t need sponsors. All they need is that verification through the organization. That’s what we need here in the UFC. This is what we would all like.
Cannonier’s underpayment also puts a strain on his wife and family.
“I should have six digits on my account that I don’t even need to touch,” Cannonier said. “I shouldn’t have to worry about ‘if I get hurt and I can’t fight anymore, what am I going to do?’ Unfortunately, this is a situation that many of us fighters find themselves in which I myself am.
“My wife is getting ready to get up and go to work, which goes against the structure we have as a family. There is so much stuff here at home, taking care of the house, taking care of the kids, making sure everything is where it needs to be so that I can go and do my thing, not having to worry about everything that is happening.
Financial difficulties aside, Cannonier is thrilled with the UFC experience.
“I’m not complaining. It’s the pay structure of the UFC, we sign our contracts,” Cannonier explained. “But yeah, I want a bigger check. I don’t want to be like those guys than us. see in the NFL I’m not one of those guys stunting people and flossing and splurging like that. There are bigger and better things I could do with my money.
“I have never been so happy. This is the best job I have ever had in my life. I think the UFC takes very good care of its athletes. They make sure we have everything we need, especially during fight week. It is the first mixed martial arts organization in the world. I am part of history in this regard. I am grateful and blessed to be a part of this organization. Yes, I want more money. I wish a fight could hold me back for at least two years, not one. Then from that, we build that.
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