Kamaru Usman, Terence Crawford debate MMA vs. boxing pay: ‘It is no comparability’

Two of the largest stars in boxing and the UFC in contrast fighter pay of their respective sports activities.

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and undefeated tremendous welterweight boxing champion Terence Crawford mentioned the professionals and cons of fighter pay in MMA vs. boxing.

Usman argued that there’s extra readability within the pay for MMA fighters than boxers.

“For us, we get numerous flak that, ‘Oh, you guys aren’t getting paid sufficient,’ however lots of people don’t perceive how simplified it’s for us,” Usman stated on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Cejudo. “You need to combat, this date, that is the paycheck, sure or no? For you guys (boxing), it’s important to be liable for caring for your supervisor. Now the promoter and supervisor need to work one thing out, and the promoter then has to go to the community to try to get you that cash.

“There’s so many alternative those who the cash has to the touch their fingers earlier than it even will get to your hand. If it’s $100 million that’s being handed down the pipeline, by the point it will get to your fingers, you is likely to be touching $10-15 million out of 100. And that’s a tough tablet to swallow to the place we get numerous flak for that, however there’s numerous totally different conditions in boxing to the place you don’t get that.”

Crawford disagreed with Usman.

“Boxers receives a commission greater than MMA as an entire,” Crawford stated. “It’s no comparability.”

“On the high,” Usman responded.

“No, as an entire,” Crawford countered. “As an illustration, UFC, a man headlining at The Sphere, they’re most likely getting a few million {dollars}. However you’ll see a man on the undercard of a giant present most likely making greater than that man. …You present up, you get $50,000. You win, you get one other $50,000. You get the Knockout of the 12 months, you get one other $50,000.”

Usman defined how whereas the large stars in boxing make greater than the large stars within the UFC, the lower-level fighters make extra within the UFC.

“For entry degree UFC fighters, first combat within the UFC, you would possibly make 10 and 10 (thousand),” Usman stated. “You go on the market and win, it’s $20,000. To the place there are boxers which are possibly 7,8,10-0 nonetheless making – they inform them, ‘You need to combat this combat?’ Alright $2,500. That’s all I imply.”

Crawford made the purpose that Usman is speaking in regards to the UFC, which is the largest promotion in MMA.

“OK, so let me break it down for you,” Crawford stated. “The UFC, that’s like the highest of the highest. You started working your approach as much as the UFC. There are boxers popping out of the Olympics getting a sign-in bonus that’s – So these little fights, are the fights you’re combating that aren’t within the UFC. You might be professional and never be within the UFC.

“So we’re speaking in regards to the huge stage. So when you make it to the UFC, you’re within the huge leagues now. Once I make it to the large leagues, once I’m on TV, I’m making greater than you making while you come into the UFC. So, you’ve bought to match apples to apples. You may’t say this man’s first combat within the UFC. Effectively, what did he do earlier than the UFC?”