Dana White Fact Check - UFC Fighters Can Disclose Their Pay
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It’s time for another Dana White Fact Check!
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UFC president Dana White recently had a discussion with Dan Le Batard on Le Batard’s radio show. Things got a bit testy during an exchange on fighter pay:
DLB: I don't know anything about the business, but I do know that other sports make their pay public. Even boxing does that and boxing is the dirtiest.
DW: Well, too bad. I don't.
DW: Listen every fighter that fights for me has the opportunity to go out and say what they make. They can say it publicly.
Jon Jones isn't telling you what he made in his last four fights. I bet you wouldn't say that (he’s underpaid) if you knew what he made. You definitely wouldn't say it if you knew what Conor McGregor made. You definitely wouldn't say it if you know what Khabib made. And these women, the women that fight for us are paid just like the men. So listen if you if you want to make an uneducated — Very uneducated remark like that — then knock yourself out.
Fact Check: According to a UFC contract: "Fighter shall not disclose to any third party (other than his agents and professional advisors, in their capacity as such, on a need-to-know basis), any information with respect to the terms and provisions of this Agreement or any Bout Agreement except: (i) to the extent necessary to comply with law or the valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction, in which event Fighter shall notify ZUFFA as promptly as practicable (if possible, prior to making such disclosure) and shall seek confidential treatment of such information, (ii) as part of normal reporting or review procedure to Fighter's lenders, auditors, attorneys and similar professionals, provided that such lenders, auditors and attorneys and similar professionals agree to be bound by the provisions of this section; and (iii) in order to enforce Fighter's rights pursuant to this Agreement or any Bout Agreement, in which case Fighter agrees to enter into a confidentiality agreement for all such proceedings."
In other words, fighters cannot disclose their pay. It’s literally written into the contract that they cannot do so. White has been making this false claim since the discussion of fighter pay began with Jon Jones speaking up about his inability to make a deal with the UFC to face Francis Ngannou at heavyweight.
Do you know something about UFC, USADA, an MMA manager or a fighter, that I should know? You can email me at trent.reinsmith@gmail.com or contact me via secure messaging on Telegram at trentreinsmith.
