Fightlinker: Independence doesn’t pay well

[twankydawg]

Independence doesn’t pay well
March 7, 2008 – 1:30 pm by fightlinker

Sure, it may seem like a fighter’s market at the moment with EliteXC, DREAM, World Victory Road, Strikeforce, Golden Boy and M1 (haha, just kidding) gearing up. But the truth of the matter is there’s still no better place than the UFC if you want to make money. Okay, let me add a little caveat onto that: There’s no better place than the UFC to make money IF YOU SPEAK ENGLISH. And you aren’t a freakshow. Okay, maybe there’s a few exceptions, but for the most part, it’s true.

While a fighter may sign with a promotion for more money than they’d get per fight in the UFC, odds are they’ll probably fight only half as much as they would in the UFC if they’re lucky. That’s basically what happened to Matt Lindland with Bodog:

Lindland last competed in April of 2007 against Fedor Emelianenko in BodogFight: Clash of Nations in St. Petersburg, Russia. He has spent the last ten months expecting two more bouts and two more paydays. Neither came to fruition.

“I lived up to my end of the bargain,” said the Greco-Roman wrestling Olympic silver-medalist. “I haven’t fought since April, anticipating two more fights with Bodog.

“I was exclusive with them for that period of time. That’s why I hadn’t done any negotiations outside of that contract. I was upholding my end of the bargain and dealing with them with integrity and honesty. I was being forthright, but they weren’t doing such. It was very difficult.”

Explaining his contract situation with Bodog Fight, Lindland said, “My contract was with Sixth Row Productions. Bodog and Sixth Row intermingled funds. I mean, I could go after Bodog Fight, but they have no assets. They set up these shell companies and they’re not paying their fighters. They don’t honor their contracts. It was very disappointing.”

Fighters like Matt Lindland have always been banging the drum for more independence, but I say independence has never worked out well for anyone. Lindland just wasted a good chunk of the past year and a half learning that. And while I’m sure Fedor has scammed a good chunk of money out of M1, I doubt that plus his pay from Yarrenoka even comes close to the cash he’d be rolling in if he’d just signed a goddamn contract with the UFC back when they first took over for PRIDE.

The only guy who seems to be doing well for himself lately with independence is Frank Shamrock. He only fights when he wants to fight and only fights who he feels like fighting. Of course, this wasn’t always the case. Frank got fucked over a few times and spent a long time figuring out how the hell to make his situation work for him. And even then it was only his very specific history, name, and popularity that allowed him to pull it off.

Overall, I hate to say it, if you’re fighting for the money, you should be fighting for the UFC. Of course if you’re more interested in sitting out most of the year, getting booked last second for bizarre matchups in Japan, and getting screwed when companies go under, give that ‘independent’ thing a try. It rocks.

Fightlinker makes a good point here. All these guys can run off at the mouth and say what they want, but being in the UFC means solid, consistent money, and if I was fighter, I know I'd stay there.

[O_O]

I can almost agree with that. The UFC has also screwed some fighters in the last year as well, though. Keith Jardine hasn't fought since September. What did he make then? I remember it was ridiculously little. Also Andrei Arlovski didn't get a fight for an extremely long time. I don't know if that's a terribly sound argument. I think it needs to be evaluated really carefully across the different orgs. before it's written in stone.

[Masscore]

I agree with this article, you might sign with the UFC for a little less money then Bodog or EliteXC. But you will fight 3-4 times a year compared to twice. So in the end you make more money. Plus you get the expierence of fighting other guys and for the most part the guys in the UFC are the best at their wieght class in the world. Or at least one of the best.

[thefirm0]

the ufc is the most legit company, m-1 has yet to put on a show and seems to have lost its crown jewel(fedor), elite xc seems alright but thier cbs deal is gonna make or break them, if they don't get ratings off the charts then i see cbs dropping them and going back to second banana, we'll see if dream can maintain good cards, their current one actually doesnt look that good to me (most asain fighters only do well agaist other asains) i think if the ufc raised its minimum pay to 10,000 to show and a 5,000 win bonus MINIMUM there would be no question where guys would want to fight

[twankydawg]

Originally Posted by Masscore

I agree with this article, you might sign with the UFC for a little less money then Bodog or EliteXC. But you will fight 3-4 times a year compared to twice. So in the end you make more money. Plus you get the expierence of fighting other guys and for the most part the guys in the UFC are the best at their wieght class in the world. Or at least one of the best.

I'm willing to bet that the sponsors are more plentiful and probably pay more for fighters with UFC exposure. And I don't see many fighters making more at Bodog or EliteXC than the fighters at the UFC. Just look at what they're top and bottom guys get paid, it's no comparison, the place to be if you're a fighter is the UFC.

[Misfits138]

Hopefully, at least one more reputable org. will pop up. Elite XC may be that org. in light of their deal with CBS. Competition would be good for the fans and the fighters. Until then, UFC does seem to be the only reliable game in town.

[Bullock]

Originally Posted by O_O

I can almost agree with that. The UFC has also screwed some fighters in the last year as well, though. Keith Jardine hasn't fought since September. What did he make then? I remember it was ridiculously little. Also Andrei Arlovski didn't get a fight for an extremely long time. I don't know if that's a terribly sound argument. I think it needs to be evaluated really carefully across the different orgs. before it's written in stone.

Supposedly Jardine got a large bonus after the fight.

AA's management said that he had been offered two fights before the O'Brian fight, but both guys pulled out.

[twankydawg]

Originally Posted by Bullock

Supposedly Jardine got a large bonus after the fight.

Supposedly they do that with alot of the guys that fight hard. If they aren't contracted for alot, they pay them under the table. I'm sure there are some guys making under 50k a fight with the UFC who've made more money than Lindland the last 2 years.

[Legend]

I'm surprised the article did not mention sponsorship money also. Sponsors pay allot more if your in the UFC then say Elite or Strikeforce.

[Bullock]

On a side note: I think it is hilarious how some people still think Lindland has a shot at Anderson.