With the Ultimate Fighting Championship augmenting itself year after year, the organization couldn’t be more surrounded by controversies and criticism. UFC President Dana White has received flak for several issues over the past few years, and fighter pay ranks at the top of that list. With new competitors always on the rise, the Las Vegas-based promotion keeps coming under the microscope.
Recently, a UFC veteran named Markus Perez spoke on the Trocação Franca podcast about the subject. The 32-year-old Brazilian went 2-5 in his UFC run from 2017 to 2021. Perez is about to enter the square circle in Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing 4. He is set to face Joe Riggs in the second bout on the card.
On the podcast, he shares how he got the offer to fight at the April 1st event. Perez shared that UFC welterweight Jorge ‘Gamebred‘ Masvidal approached him in a gym and asked if he would like to be the replacement for Paul Daley, who had to pull out because of visa issues.
Roy Jones Jr will be fighting Anthony Pettis on Saturday April 1st, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Fiserv Forum on Gamebred Boxing 4. Tickets go on sale today at 12:00 🥊https://t.co/sHVITVqIb7@RealRoyJonesJr @Showtimepettis @GamebredFighter @DeanToole_ pic.twitter.com/3NBEl9Gsrm
— Gamebred Boxing (@Gamebredboxing) February 17, 2023
“I told him I’m an MMA fighter and I’ll fight anything, He[Jorge Masvidal] said, ‘I’ll offer you this much for a boxing match.’ I was like, ‘What? (Three times) more than I was making in the UFC? I’m in. Let’s do it.’ It’s good money, but my focus is on beating the guy.” shared Markus.
The April 1st event will take place in the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the eight-round main event, Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. will lock horns with former WEC and UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. The card also features the featherweight GOAT Jose Aldo against Jeremy Stephens. The co-main event will oversee a clash between former UFC champion Vitor Belfort and Ronaldo Souza.
How much did the Gamebred Boxing 4 fighters make in the UFC?
For the last decade or so, the subject of fighter pay has plagued the UFC brass and especially president Dana White. While more and more veterans and personalities are voicing their displeasure on the matter, fans believe the subject isn’t going anywhere any time soon. In some cases, certain athletes are finding more monetary success in organizations outside the UFC.
The Gamebred Boxing 4 features several athletes who had illustrious careers at one point in the UFC. Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis bagged his biggest pay during his final UFC outing against Alex Morono in 2020. Pettis made $350,000 which included a $165,000 win bonus. As per Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole, Pettis’ opponent Roy Jones Jr. made around $3 million dollars for his boxing exhibition against Mike Tyson in 2020.
The featherweight legend Jose Aldo’s highest UFC payday came in a win against Frankie Edgar at UFC 200. The 2016 event helped Aldo bag a hefty $515,000 ($400,000 to show, $100,000 win bonus, and $15,000 Reebok sponsorship). Jeremy, who has faced Aldo in the Octagon before, earned his biggest paycheck of $196,000 against Choi Doo-Ho in 2018.
The Brazilian legend Vitor Belfort earned a whopping $500,060 in his rubber match against Dan Henderson. In the given payout, the promotion paid $300,000 just for Belfort to show up and $200,000 for the win. ‘Jacare’ bagged his highest UFC payout in his rematch with Derek Brunson in 2018. He took home $330,000 ($190,000 show money, $80,000 win bonus, $50,000 POTN bonus, and $10,000 Reebok sponsorship).
