UFC
UFC Champ Jose Aldo reiterates issues with fighter pay in MMA: "We practically pay to do this"
Dec 22, 2014 - 5:45:44 PM UFC Champ Jose Aldo reiterates issues with fighter pay in MMA: "We practically pay to do this"

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"The athlete is not treated like he deserves. We deserve better. I'm not speaking only about the UFC, but about the media as well. The fans treat us really well. We suffer a lot and live to do a show. We get paid way less than we deserve. We deliver shows and deserve to get paid more. We practically pay to do this. You deserve to get better paid if you sell the fight... To get closer to boxing is complicated, but it would be great. Boxing is in the culture around the world for a long time, while the UFC is new and is still growing. I think it's hard to get closer to what boxing pays their athletes, but we work for that. If they do get closer one day, I think I'll be retired already."

-UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo discussed his continued issues with fighter pay during a fan Q&A last week prior to UFC Fight Night 58 (translated by Guilherme Cruz at MMAFighting.com).

Penick's Analysis: Aldo obviously isn't at the bottom rung of the pay ladder in the UFC, but that makes his comments carry more weight as well. It's the big names in the sport who can spur change more than those in the middle or bottom of the pack, and though Aldo's probably right that things won't significantly improve until after he's retired, he's in a position to make things better for future competitors. The more he speaks out, the more his message can spread, especially if he keeps it consistent and is trying to change things for more than himself.