With the spotlight of his upcoming title fight with Chad Mendes at UFC 179, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo again brings up the issue of fighter pay.
Aldo said he felt ‘devalued’ by the UFC earlier this year and is again asking why the athletes aren’t taking home a bigger slice of the $1.65 billion pie.
“I ask for financial valorization not only for me, some other fighters should have too,” Aldo told Combate (via Bloody Elbow). “We give a lot for the company. I’ve seen this happening in the past, athletes were highly valued, and the company was not that big. Today, the company is very large and athletes devalued.”
Aldo points to the recent strife between UFC president Dana White and the freshly retired Wanderlei Silva, who recently chided the organization over its treatment of prospects.
“If you’re fighting well, you are valued by the company, but you are fired if you lose three straight fights,” said Aldo. “It’s hard to talk about numbers. You can watch Wanderlei Silva and Dana White discussing numbers. I’m employed by them, I can see their side. But we’ll always seek for valorization.”
Without naming names, Aldo has alluded to his frustration of being paid considerably less than a heavyweight non-champion and non-title challenger.’
In his most recent performance against Ricardo Lamas at UFC 169 in February, Aldo shared the main card with heavyweight striker Alistair Overeem. The PRIDE veteran and former Strikeforce champion reportedly earned $407,143 ($285,714 to show, $121,429 win bonus) for his grinding decision over Frank Mir, while Aldo walked away with $240,000 ($120,000 to show, $120,000 win bonus).
“We aren’t monthly paid, that’s why we have to keep fighting,” said Aldo. “We always try give the best of us in training to go in the cage and have a good performance, thus giving millions for the company. We also want to have part of these millions.”
Aldo faces Mendes Oct. 25 at UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Heavyweight shakeup. With Cain Velasquez out due to injury, Mark Hunt will now face Fabricio Werdum for the interim UFC heavyweight title at UFC 180 in Mexico.
‘I have to be careful.’ Fabricio Werdum doesn’t expect Hunt to be easier than Velasquez, just different. “I envision this fight like my fight with Roy Nelson. I will do the right thing to win the title.”
‘Medical advice.’ Cung Le’s one-year suspension for elevated levels of HGH has been rescinded by the UFC. ‘Based on the lack of conclusive laboratory results, UFC officials deemed it appropriate to immediately rescind the suspension without the need for further proceedings.’
Silver lining for Korean Zombie. Chan Sung Jung believes his upcoming two-year tour in the Korean Army will actually extend his MMA career by allowing his nagging injuries to properly heal. ‘I’ll have time to work on my skills without pushing myself to the limit, which is necessary when training for a fight.’
An open letter to GSP. Chuck Mindenhall pens a letter to Georges St-Pierre, but mostly just really makes you miss better days gone by.
MEDIA STEW
UFC 179 Embedded episode 1.
Conor McGregor trash talking Chad Mendes: “I can rest my balls on your forehead”
UFC rankings report.
Pundit Point of View – Jose Aldo.
Highlights from ONE FC 21: Roar of Tigers.
TTTHS.
Inside MMA viewer submissions.
Long watches.
Countdown to UFC 179: Diego Ferreira vs. Beneil Dariush
…
TWEETS
Nothing serious.
@danawhite hey dana can u dm me thanks boss
— mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) October 21, 2014
Get well soon.
Wow, @cainmma hurt again! Getw Well 😉 @UFC well I take either the winner or the loser for rematch. @danawhite… http://t.co/1u7j5gPneQ
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) October 22, 2014
As bummed as you & I are, the fighters who have been injured this year feel way, way worse. #ufc #injuries2014
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) October 22, 2014
Wish u a speedy recovery @cainmma , hope to see u there in Mexico anyways!
— Kelvin Gastelum (@KelvinGastelum) October 22, 2014
get well soon @CainVelasquez_
— JASON MAYHEM MILLER (@mayhemmiller) October 22, 2014
Cain got injured, but the results won’t be any different no matter who fabricio fights! Next… http://t.co/JJwyYiZAqf
— Beneil Dariush (@beneildariush_) October 22, 2014
This is exactly why you don’t have guys wait 9 months between fights. Because when they get hurt, then they’re out another 9 months. #Stupid
— Sean McCorkle (@BigSexyMcCorkle) October 22, 2014
Not for nothing but I’m rooting for Mark Hunt to win the belt. Gives me hope.
— Ulysses Gomez (@uselessgomez) October 22, 2014
Gonna be tough.
I’m the #1 Contender! I’ve been the #1 Contender! I’ll prove it again and again until I get my shot at being the Champ! @ufc @danawhite
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) October 21, 2014
Yikes.
Even more.
Time to go under the knife. Fix my shattered orbital from the Gunnar fight. I’ll be back in … http://t.co/THSFbwyiEb pic.twitter.com/JeZj0KEIlI
— Zak Cummings (@ZakCummings) October 21, 2014
Its not all fun and games… trigger point massage sucks, but it does the trick. http://t.co/xjOzOxC5Qk pic.twitter.com/7TF12hve7X
— Carlos Condit (@CarlosCondit) October 21, 2014
Nice.
The green mile thank u all who participated pic.twitter.com/7mpdIhXKpr
— Bobby King Green (@BobbyKGreen) October 21, 2014
Fatty.
Hey fatty … Wanna play a game? @johnlineker pic.twitter.com/SZgc6NrIwj
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) October 21, 2014
Call Cro Cop.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Oct. 21 2014)
Cain Velasquez out, Mark Hunt vs. Fabricio Werdum at UFC 180
Mike Rhodes vs. Erick Silva at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.