UFC legend Rampage Jackson finds MMA fighter pay debate ‘kind of embarrassing’ – ‘people think we’re broke’
- Former champ weighs in on Francis Ngannou’s contract dispute as critics round on Dana White over low payouts
- UFC could be paying fighters a lot more, Jackson says, but ‘this is the best time to be a free agent’
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson isn’t sure where he stands on the ongoing fighter pay debate.
Fighter pay has long been a hot topic inside the MMA industry, particularly as it pertains to the UFC, the sport’s biggest promotion.
Jackson (38-14), who fought for the UFC from 2007 to 2013 and briefly held its light heavyweight title, believes “it’s always good for fighters to make better paydays”, but admits he has some issues with the current discourse on the topic.
“I’m going to be honest with you,” the 43-year-old American told the Post on Thursday. “[This is] something I haven’t said about this particular topic: I’m kind of on the fence.
“I’m not going to lie. I get kind of defensive when they talk about pay, because the stigma of MMA fighters throughout my career in fighting is that we fight for chump change. That’s why we’re not as respected out in the sports world, cause people think we’re broke. People think we don’t make good money.”