UFC in crisis after box-office McGregor joins list of stars quitting and fighters claim they are underpaid by Dana White
THE UFC’s future hangs in the balance with its biggest fighters threatening to quit unless they are paid more.
Conor McGregor's shock retirement today is the latest chapter in UFC's rocky history which is peppered with pay disputes and lawsuits from frustrated fighters.
Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and "BMF" winner Jorge Masvidal are threatening to quit the promotion as they feel they are underpaid.
Gamebred vented his frustrations on Twitter after failing to receive what he deems as fair compensation for his next fight.
Meanwhile, Jones has asked to vacate his light heavyweight title after failing to reach an agreement with the UFC over a fight with Francis Ngannou.
Despite feeling short-changed, UFC president Dana White intends on forking out for a UFC "Fight Island" where he will host future events.
It is unclear if the current pay disputes and his retirement are related, however the timing has certainly raised eyebrows.
White is adamant that he won’t change his financial offerings and that fighters are free to leave whenever they choose.
He said: "I'll remind everybody that we're in a pandemic. The world is a crazy place right now with all these things going on.
So if that's what Conor's feeling right now, Jon Jones, Jorge Masvidal, I feel you. On a certain level, I understand it.
Dana White
"I think that everybody feels this right now. No fans, you can't travel to fights around.
"I think everybody is p***ed off, confused, been locked up in their houses for three-and-a-half months. People are wearing masks, there's protests, there's riots. The list goes on and on.
"Listen, if you don't think what I'm doing now is probably the hardest thing I've ever done and if you don't think I don't throw my f***ing hands up and I'm ready to say, 'You know what? F*** this s***.' Believe me [I do].
"No other sports are going right now but us. And one of the beautiful things about this sport is you don't have to fight.
"So if that's what Conor's feeling right now, Jon Jones, Jorge Masvidal, I feel you. On a certain level, I understand it.
"Nobody is pressuring anybody to fight. And if Conor McGregor feels he wants to retire, you know my feelings about retirement - you should absolutely do it.
"And I love Conor... there's a handful of people that have made this really fun for me. And he's one of them.
"It's not like I'm going, 'Holy s**t, this is crazy, this is nuts.' Nothing is crazy and nuts right now, because everything is crazy and nuts right now, on a certain level. I totally understand it and get it."
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on finances in the sports industry.
With no gate money and travel restrictions for international fighters, the UFC might need to tighten their purse strings while they ride out the Covid storm.
However, this isn’t the first time the organisation has come under fire for failing to pay athletes fairly.
According to reports published before the pandemic, the UFC only pays 16 per cent of its £710million revenue to fighters.
In contrast, other sports bodies such as Major League Baseball or the National Football League pay between 48-50 per cent to their players.
After feeling undervalued by the UFC, multiple fighters filed an antitrust lawsuit against the company in 2014.
They accuse the UFC of "illegally maintaining monopoly and monopsony power by systematically eliminating competition from rival promoters, artificially suppressing fighters’ earnings from bouts and merchandising and marketing activities through restrictive contracting and other exclusionary practices".
In other words, they accuse the company of shutting down rival companies and driving down pay for fighters.
The UFC has disputed these claims and insists they pay fighters fairly. The case is still ongoing.
This week, former heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia also came out against the UFC after they refused to provide financial support for an arm injury suffered at UFC 48.
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The 44-year old has suffered on-going complications from a broken arm he received against Frank Mir in June 2004.
He shared a gruesome snap of his injury on social media and accused the company of leaving him out to dry.
With frustrated fighters popping out of the woodwork, it certainly raises questions over how the organisation pays its talent.