UFC fighters still waiting for pay increases from new $7.7b media deal

Saturday marks a major milestone for UFC as it hosts UFC 324 in Las Vegas, the first event that will stream on Paramount+, marking the end of the pay-per-view era.

The seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with Paramount -- twice what the UFC was previously making in its media deal with ESPN -- is a windfall for the company.

While UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly said fighter pay will increase with the new deal, specifics of how much more they will make for competing and winning in the post-PPV era remains to be seen.

Justin Gaethje, who is competing in the main event Saturday against Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight championship, made it clear during a media day press conference Wednesday that he's not seeing a pay increase as he headlines the first event of the new media deal.

"I hear (former fighter and current broadcaster) Daniel Cormier saying that everybody is going to get paid more on this card," Gaethje said. "I'm not getting one dollar more than I would've if this deal didn't happen."

White disputed this claim Thursday during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," saying, "Gaethje was offered more money and Gaethje never responded."

Historically in the pay-per-view era, the biggest draws, such as Conor McGregor, have earned a percentage of revenue from the PPV in addition to fight and, should they prevail, win payouts.

With PPV revenue now a thing of the past, that means the most notable fighters may even be making less than they were under the prior media deal.

McGregor, who hasn't fought in a UFC Octagon since 2021, might return for a scheduled event at the White House this summer.

Now, McGregor is saying the new revenue model would require him to return to discussions on his contract. He has said he plans to resume negotiations in February.

"My contract, essentially, is void right now because there's no more pay-per-view, whereas my contract was based on pay-per-view sales," McGregor said.

--Field Level Media