“UFC Is Straight Up Robbing” – Calls Mounts on Dana White as Paddy Pimblett Comes Clean About His First UFC Paycheck

The UFC is definitely the most sought-after organization for fighters around the globe. Every athlete dreams of competing under the UFC banner with a beaming aspiration to become the next superstar. Liverpool’s promising combat sports star Paddy Pimblett had the same ambition after captivating audiences in Cage Warriors with his exciting fights and grand entrances. But, ‘The Baddy’ had to sacrifice some moneybags to achieve the larger price, as it turns out.

Cage Warriors can be considered Europe’s biggest MMA promotion that significantly contributed to UFC’s astronomical success. Superstars like Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping, and Gegard Mousasi commenced their journey from there, and the promotion still has an impressive talent pool. ‘The Baddy’ joined Cage Warriors in 2013, and in big fights under the promotion, the Liverpudlian regularly drew audiences. One naturally assumes he was well-off, and when he transitioned into the UFC in 2021, many believed that the Englishman made a boatload on this new contract. However, his recent revelations came as a shock!

In a FullSend Podcast, Paddy said, “When I got offered the first (UFC) contract, I got offered a new Cage Warriors’ deal, and that deal was worth more than the base contract for the UFC – and I’ve done a lot with that money. I saved that money over the years to get a house deposit myself and pay my mom’s mortgage off. I’ve done a few things like that, and that money’s done a lot for me over the years. I’m very thankful for Cage Warriors.”

Paddy added, “They set me up for the start of my adult life really, because that’s when I was 21 when I first started to get that wage. When I first signed with the UFC, I took a pay cut. I signed for a pay cut at first. My first two fights were 10/10 and then 12/12, and obviously, after I won my second fight we got a new deal, and it went up.”

For those who didn’t understand what Paddy’s contract entailed, let’s clarify. The UFC base pay starts at $10,000 to show and another $10,000 to win. The Liverpudlian accepted this for his first fight against Luigi Vendramini. After that, his pay increased to $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win in his next fight against Rodrigo Vargas.

However, this amount was significantly lower than what he was earning under his previous contract with Cage Warriors – the details of . Although he is well paid right now, the fans did not react positively to these figures, making their feelings known.

Fans react to Paddy Pimblett’s first UFC paycheck 

These $10,000, and $12,000 numbers didn’t impress a user who outright blamed the UFC for cutting lowly deals with the fighters: “UFC is straight up robbing these fighters.” Another user was incensed as well, writing, “Absolutely criminal starting a fighter off at 10k/10k.” But one user understood the UFC’s reasoning behind providing an up-and-comer with such a deal, but expected more for an established fighter like Paddy, “I understand 10/10 for fighters that up coming but someone well established should be able to get more.”

Interestingly, a user pointed out that the UFC missed out on signing Russian kickboxer Artem Vakhitov due to his base payment of $10,000 for both show and win and believed he’s probably better off now: “10/10 contracts is why the ufc fumbled Artem Vakhitov glory prolly paying him a million to headline Glory 100.” Vakhitov is next slated to headline The Duel of the Legends against the King of Kickboxing Rico Verhoeven on June 14.

Another user highlighted how this payout is too small for the fighters to go through a full-on training camp: “12/12 I thought was standard, I didn’t know they went low as 10/10 highway robbery these guys go through hell for weeks, almost kill themselves dehydrating and then go to war for max 20k which has to pay their camp, team, etc.” That’s quite a point to consider; the UFC has historically paid fighters around 20 percent of the company’s revenue, paling in comparison to athletes in other sports leagues.

Lastly, one user didn’t hesitate to lay the blame squarely with the head honcho, saying, “Meanwhile Dana is gambling somewhere with the Nelk boys lmaoo.” Well, regardless, a settled Paddy Pimblett is making headway in the UFC now, initial deal notwithstanding. What do you think of Paddy’s first UFC paycheck? Comment below!

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