Patricio Pitbull (MMA Junkie)
The UFC Fighter Pay issue was once again blown out in the open after YouTuber Jake Paul’s recent comments
There has been an ever-present concern about the payout of a UFC fighter being very less in comparison to other sports stars. Numerous fighters have expressed their displeasure against this.
After Jake Paul’s recent comments about the same, following his pre-fight face-off with Tyron Woodley, the issue gained traction yet again.
That same week, Paulo Costa pulled out of his fight against Jared Cannonier citing that his payout was very less.
In the wake of this, Bellator two-division champion Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire took a dig at the biggest MMA promotion in the world. The Brazilian claimed that there were a lot of promotions paying their fighters more than the UFC have been paying.
In an interview with PVT YouTube Channel (Translated to English by Marcelo Alonso of Sherdog), Pitbull said:
“That question is normal. UFC was the event that made the sport popular. It was created 30 years ago. But the situation is totally changing. There are great fighters in all organizations and some of them are better paid than UFC fighters.” [via Sherdog]
Citing examples like Henry Cejudo, Jon Jones, Pitbull voiced his support for Paulo Costa. He divulged that the Brazilian was right in doing so, and wished all the others had the courage to do the same.
Pitbull was quoted as saying:
“When I see Jon Jones and [Henry] Cejudo retired for money. [Paulo Costa] leaving a card for not being well paid, I think to myself is it worth being humiliated for a little more fame? Because the only difference between UFC and other organizations is the tradition and audience. ‘Borrachinha’ is totally right. Someone has to complain about this absurdity and I hope others have balls to do the same.” [via Sherdog]
Patricio Pitbull is set to defend his featherweight title against AJ McKee on the 31st of July.
Costa, on the other hand, is flirting with a possibility of a fight against Marvin Vettori.
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