"We would probably be fighting in bars in small towns if we weren’t pro" - Terrance McKinney defends UFC fighter pay on Twitter, fellow fighter chips in to reprimand "entitled" fans
One of the long-standing allegations leveled against the UFC in recent years is that the promotion apparently does not compensate its fighters adequately. Inadequate fighter pay has been highlighted by fans and other athletes time and again with a demand for the promotion to change its stance on the matter.
In a rare instance, however, UFC lightweight Terrance McKinney has defended the promotion regarding the fighter pay issue. McKinney recounted his own journey, from having to work odd jobs to becoming a full-time athlete with "sponsors and bonuses" following his UFC debut.
🏾April 2021 I was workin odd jobs to make ends meet, 2 months later I made my ufc debut and became a full time athlete with sponsors and bonuses. I’ve had 4 fights, a second contract, and I’m unofficially in the top 30. Let’s see what happens in the next 12 months I’m ready 💪🏾
Upon being told by a fan that fighter pay in the UFC is grossly inadequate, McKinney responded by expressing his gratitude towards the promotion for his current circumstances.
"The fans talk more about the money than we do we’re fighters we come from terrible beginnings and would probably be fighting in bars in small towns if we weren’t pro so this is a blessing I compare myself to nobody cause we all got our own storyline."
we’re fighters we come from terrible beginnings and would probably be fighting in bars in small towns if we weren’t pro so this is a blessing I compare myself to nobody cause we all got our own storyline 
🏾 twitter.com/Yirkaa/status/…
The fans talk more about the money than we do 😂 we’re fighters we come from terrible beginnings and would probably be fighting in bars in small towns if we weren’t pro so this is a blessing I compare myself to nobody cause we all got our own storyline 🙏🏾 twitter.com/Yirkaa/status/…
Fellow UFC welterweight Jake Matthews acknowledged McKinney in a reply.
@twrecks155 Exactly bro! well said 🙏🏼
'T.Wrecks' further commented on the issue by calling out fans for wanting to dictate the fighters' feelings.
"Or it’s like every fan thinks they have a right to tell us how we should feel and get weird when we don’t lol"
@connerbless @JakeMatthewsUFC Or it’s like every fan thinks they have a right to tell us how we should feel and get weird when we don’t lol
Matthews echoed his sentiments and added that humility was paramount to the lives of fighters, something fans would not be able to relate to.
"Too much entitlement, simple fact is they aren’t warriors and they’ll never understand the values we live by. The main one being humility."
Check out his tweet below:
@twrecks155 @connerbless Too much entitlement, simple fact is they aren’t warriors and they’ll never understand the values we live by.
The main one being humility.
"Utterly f***ing ridiculous" - Uriah Hall calls out UFC on fighter pay
Former UFC middleweight Uriah Hall called out his former promotion on their lowly fighter pay compared to the higher percentage of revenue athletes in other sports share.
Ahead of his boxing debut against Le'Veon Bell in the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva event, Hall spoke to Ariel Helwani in a virtual press conference. Hall used the ring girls as an example and pointed out the disparity in their pay and what fighters earn for putting their bodies on the line.
“You don’t have to go too much into details but I know people that are making [$10,000 to show, $10,000 to win], which is ridiculous. Cause you’re going out there and fighting and you’re putting your brain cells on the line and f***ing ring card girls are making $70,000, which is utterly f****** ridiculous. You know your worth as you get older in your career, I think, especially when you put a lot on the line for it and some people feel like they deserve more." [h/t MMAFighting]
He also appreciated Jake Paul for highlighting the issue and using his platform to generate awareness for fighters.
Check out the full press conference on MMAFightingonSBN: