The champion believes fighters should be making more money, but admits the UFC can simply choose to pay their stars whatever they want in the end.
“It’s just one of those things when UFC has monopolized the whole sport and if you want to make it in the field you have to fight with the UFC,” Whittaker said to The Sydney Morning Herald. “When they’re the only ones that own the sport, they can pay you what they like.”
There has been no fighter pay for those competing at UFC 234 disclosed ahead of time, with that information usually getting released a short time after the event.
Whittaker says it is up to the fighters to find a way to negotiate the best deal for themselves.
“Every fighter has to negotiate his own contract with the UFC,” he said. “The more popular you are, the more leverage you have with them.”
UFC 234 takes place tonight for the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia with Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
