The fighter pay issue has returned to the forefront following UFC 312, with the event’s announced salary sparking new concerns about financial disparities in the Dana White-led promotion. While main event winners Dricus Du Plessis and Zhang Weili received a reported $3.34 million and $2.54 million, respectively, other competitors, including those on the prelims, earned much less. Among them was UFC newbie Colby Thicknesse, who reportedly received the lowest compensation of $24,000. But did he actually earn $24,000?
In a recent video, Kairouz Bros podcast presenter Nicholas Kairouz broke down the disclosed salary, including Tallison Teixeira at $24,000, Justin Tafa at $64,000, Jake Matthews at $221,000, Tatiana Suarez at $332,000, and Dricus Du Plessis at $3.34 million. While many of these figures align with online reports, Colby Thicknesse, who apparently earned the least amount at $24,000, appeared skeptical about the accuracy of these figures.
Commenting on the video, he wrote, “I dunno where they got my number from but I wish it was as high as they said.” Given that most reports stated he made $24,000, his comment calls into question the authenticity of reported fighter earnings, as well as the larger issue of Dana White-led promotion’s pay transparency. Despite the controversy, four fighters were awarded an additional $50,000 in bonus money for their performances. Quillan Salkilld and Tallison Teixeira won Performance of the Night with their swift knockouts, while Rong Zhu and Kody Steele split Fight of the Night bonuses.
The debate over fighter pay is not new, with many athletes and fans questioning the vast financial disparity between headliners and undercard fighters. Thicknesse’s reaction just adds to the current debate over how the UFC compensates its talent. It can be further evidenced by the compliance pay released by the UFC. So, what did each fighter earn? Let’s find out.
Dana White gives Dricus Du Plessis 4x more than the average UFC 312 fighter’s salary
Dana White’s UFC 312 was an enormous success, and the fighter compliance compensation added to the event’s size. Dricus Du Plessis left the event with more than only his middleweight title defense; he also received the highest compliance payout of the night. The South African champion and Zhang Weili got $42,000 in promotional compliance compensation, roughly four times more than many of the other fighters on the card. Their opponents, Sean Strickland and Tatiana Suarez, each received $32,000.
Meanwhile, veteran Jake Matthews was the only non-titleholder to break five figures, earning $21,000 based on his 21-fight UFC career. The compliance pay structure rewards fighters depending on their experience and championship status. Newcomers Quillian Salkilld, Kody Steele, and Tallison Teixeira received the minimal $4,000 payout, while mid-tier fighters Justin Tafa and Jimmy Crute, who had six to ten UFC fights, received $6,000.
While the framework provides financial incentives for longevity, it is clear that only winners and top contenders profit greatly. UFC 312 combatants received $254,500 in compliance payouts, raising the year-to-date total to $871,500. However, as Dricus Du Plessis and Weili continue to profit at the top, the numbers underscore the hardships of lower-tier fighters, reigniting the controversy about fighter pay despite the UFC’s record-breaking revenue growth. What do you think? Is Dana White underpaying his fighters? Let us know in the comments.
The post UFC Debutant Questions Reported Fighter Salaries as Dricus Du Plessis, Sean Strickland Earn Over $4M Payout in Australia appeared first on EssentiallySports.