Floyd Mayweatherand Logan Paul’s paychecks have caused quite a stir among some MMA fighters.
Recently, UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa took to social media to voice his displeasure with his current pay situation compared to what YouTubers are earning in exhibition fights, but UFC president Dana White doesn’t want to hear it.
In a series of tweets on June 5, Costa (14-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) suggested that the UFC should be paying him more than what he is currently earning, considering his placement as a main event fighter.
Just to be clear. I never signed or locked up that contract. Why ufc announced this fight if didn’t signed? My question too
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) June 5, 2021
“You signed a contract, you’re under contract,” White said in response to Costa’s comments during an interview with TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter. “If that’s the way you feel, you know what I say all the time, we have fights every weekend. If you want to be busy, you can fight every weekend if you want to. Get out of your contract, and go do whatever you want to do.”
White continued to say he wouldn’t simply release Costa from his current contract which was recently extended, although he did not say how many fights are remaining on his current deal. He would, however, let him compete in the remaining number of fights as quickly as he would like if he believes the grass is greener outside of the UFC.
Costa’s last outing was at UFC 253 in a headlining middleweight title fight against the champ Israel Adesanya. The Brazilian powerhouse lost the fight by TKO in the second round, turning in a performance that baffled White. He has not competed since, despite being booked for fights that have since fallen through.
Less than 350k is joke
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) June 5, 2021
“You’re in no position to be talking about crazy money after your last performance,” White stated. “You either want to fight, or you don’t want to fight.”
Many fighters have recently spoken out about the paydays that YouTubers are making in the boxing ring against retired fighters versus what they are taking home from the UFC, but White isn’t swayed. “You should be happy for the kid. Good for him,” White said.
“You should have started a YouTube channel when you were thirteen years old and built your name up and everything else, and you could have had the fight on Saturday night, but you didn’t,” White stated.
Costa released a lengthier statement on Instagram to clarify his current position on the matter:
I have working so hard to come and make a great show for fans next against a great UFC name on similar position as me #2 top ranked but they keep insisting on paying me even less than some unranked fighters , thats so unfair.
And im A GUY WHO PEOPLE WANT TO SEE FIGHTING!I believe this is very bad for sport and fan’s lost good fights would suppose happened.
I ll be training hard as always to make that vicious fight people love watch
The UFC boss maintains that if fighters want to test the waters and see if there is more money to be made elsewhere, that’s fine with him, as soon as the currently contracted business is completed.
“You’re not a YouTuber, you’re a fighter, and this is what you do for a living – or you don’t, it’s up to you,” White stated.
“Come back and put yourself in a position to do something big.”