Dana White Put in Place as Terence Crawford Ends UFC Fighter Pay Debate With One Line

In the past few years, several UFC fighters have flooded the boxing world, putting up gloves, chasing glory, and better finances in a newer avenue. From Conor McGregor‘s blockbuster fight to Darren Till’s Misfits championship win to now Tyson Pedro’s debut in February, ex-UFC fighters are bringing new blood to the sport of boxing. However, when it comes to boxers, we have rarely seen them trying their luck inside the octagon.

Jake Paul teased a PFL debut last year, but nothing has come to fruition yet. So, the question needs to be asked. Why does the squared circle draw UFC stars so powerfully? Is it the allure of the big bucks, or is Dana White’s management responsible for its inability to hold its fighters in? Unraveling this puzzle, Terence Crawford shared his bold take, giving a reality check to the UFC head honcho.

Terence Crawford feels it’s all about the money

In a recent 3-hour-long interview with NFL legend Shannon Sharpe on the latter’s Club Shay Shay podcast, Bud laid everything bare. During the conversation, the former Denver Broncos tight end asked the Nebraskan about the recent surge of MMA stars like Francis Ngannou and Conor McGregor into boxing. “What’s the appeal of a UFC fighter wanting to box?” he asked.

Terence Crawford didn’t mince his words and answered bluntly, “It’s money. It’s all about money.” Reflecting on his past interview alongside Henry Cejudo, he noted, “I was telling them boxers make way more money than UFC fighters, and that’s mainly what it comes down to,” he explained.

For the 41-0 champ, the massive paydays in crossover boxing bouts dwarf UFC earnings. Sharpe echoed his opinion, adding, “Francis Ngganou, he probably made 20 times what he’s ever made in a UFC fight.” As the conversation went forward, Crawford debunked online claims that boxers should test themselves in MMA. He claimed that even MMA fighters don’t come here to prove anything; it is all about money.

“Boxers ain’t never asking to go over there and fight cuz boxers are compensated,” he doubled down, ending the debate once and for all. “Y’all come over here and fight us because y’all want to make more money. We not trying to go over there and make less money in the octagon and get kicked or broke or choked out and stuff like that,” he concluded. His words were a knockout: boxers stay where the pay is better.

This critique of UFC’s fighter pay isn’t new. Jake Paul, who has often criticized Dana White for the latter’s pay model, recently offered to bury the hatchet with UFC honcho. However, there is a catch.

Jake Paul’s exclusive offer to “Shut Up”

During his promotional run for the Mike Tyson bout, Jake Paul sat down on the Jed I. Goodman show, where he called out Dana White for his pay model. The Problem Child claimed that he is ready to end the rivalry, but there is a condition. “The only thing I’ve really asked for is to change the minimum fighter pay from $12,500 to $50,000. This way, fighters who have to work multiple jobs or fight only once a year could still live off that. If they fought twice a year, they’d make $100,000, which is great,” he argued, pushing for fairer wages.

He further pointed to the UFC’s annual income, around $4 billion, when TKO acquired it back in 2016. “It seems like, with the UFC making three or four billion dollars, why not give a little more to the fighters? It’s only $20 million. That’s been my biggest thing: make that change, and I will shut the f–k up,” he declared.

Well, it has been 7 months since Jake Paul extended his offer, and we haven’t heard anything from Dana White. Known for holding grudges, White defends his pay model, claiming it offers fighters “security.” His silence suggests no shift is coming.

So, as things stand, we might see more and more UFC fighters crossing over to boxing to earn that big cheque. Once again, proving Terence Crawford and Jake Paul right. What do you think? Let us know your thoughts down below.

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