Crappy Fighter Pay? It’s In The Game!
EA
EA UFC 4 gets a lot of things right in career mode, including the ridiculously low pay being offered at all levels of the sport.
EA UFC 4 is set to come out on August 14th for Playstation 4 and Xbox One and is said to be the most realistic UFC game to date. Based on what some reviewers with early access to the video game are saying, it lives up to that hype … and not always in good ways.
Fighter pay has been a big topic of discussion lately, what with GOAT contender Jon Jones sitting on the sidelines due to a salary dispute and double champ Henry Cejudo walking away rather than continuing to fight for his current set rate. For a while it looked like the promotion’s new biggest star Jorge Masvidal might not compete in 2020 due to similar issues, and we’re still wondering whether he’ll be able to come to terms with the UFC on his next fight given the company generally refuses to offer athletes a cut of PPV revenue for non-title fights.
As the old EA Sports slogan used to say, ‘It’s in the game.’
Couchside Judges podcaster and Den of Geek writer Scott Fontana has been tweeting his experiences with the newest installment, and he’s noted how disappointingly accurate the payscale is for UFC fighters in career mode.
Just signed my second $13,000/$13,000 contract in EA Sports UFC 4 Career mode and the phrase “As real as it gets” comes to mind. #UFC4 #MMATwitter
— Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana) August 10, 2020
Fighters ought to be paid more. Even in a video game. But especially for real. #justsaying
— Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana) August 10, 2020
Just inked my 5th contract. Went from 13/13 to 15/15 to 40/40 and now starting 140/140.
Honestly, it’s pretty roughly accurate. Little $$ at the bottom of the UFC roster. On rankings fringe, a little better. Top 4 with a big following: Big money. #UFC4— Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana) August 11, 2020
I know better than to leave it in the hands of the judges when I’m in the octagon. The game explicit warns you about the consequences of turning down fights. Like I said, as real as it gets. Warts and all.
— Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana) August 10, 2020
UPDATE
Won out my last contract (3-0, 3 R2 leg kick TKOs) and was offered a $2G/$2G raise. I mean, this is supposed to be a power fantasy. EA Sports UFC 4 is way too realistic. #UFC4 https://t.co/3qEne34VX6 pic.twitter.com/iEOSl16zSj— Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana) August 10, 2020
Just won the strap in EA Sports #UFC4. Here’s the new contract. @heynottheface this almost seems better than norm. pic.twitter.com/ce0wNUCGBN
— Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana) August 11, 2020
Yep, that’s right. In a game designed to provide a fantasy view of being a UFC fighter, a champion contract is $270,000 to show, $270,000 to win, with a $270,000 main event bonus and $1 per PPV buy bonus. One whole dollar! Out of the $64.99 ESPN+ charges ($84.95 if you get the 1 year ESPN+ bundle package). What an amazing deal!
Other interesting observations from Scott:
Dana White is a better fighter than Diego Sanchez, per EA Sports UFC 4 #UFC4 pic.twitter.com/UB12N4VYnA
— Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana) August 9, 2020
And full disclosure, I was a part of that wacky rankings panel once upon a time. I speak from experience.
— Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana) August 11, 2020
What do you think, Maniacs? Excited for the new EA UFC 4 game? Or are you holding out until they update it with a realistic day job simulator waiting tables for the first portion of career mode?
https://www.mmamania.com/2020/8/11/21363660/ea-ufc-4-is-super-realistic-right-down-to-crappy-fighter-pay
