Matt Brown: Fighter Pay is a Complex Issue and Fighters Share the Blame

In a recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, retired UFC fighter Matt Brown shared his thoughts on the contentious issue of fighter pay. Brown, who has spent 16 years in the UFC, believes that the conversation around fighter pay is more nuanced than simply demanding that the UFC pay athletes more. While he acknowledges that fighters are underpaid compared to the revenue generated by the organization, he argues that the cause and effect of this situation is more complex than it seems. Brown asserts that the UFC is running a successful business and that it is unrealistic to expect them to be completely fair about pay. He also points out that fighters cannot expect business owners to do anything differently than attempt to maximize profits for their businesses. However, Brown also believes that fighters share some of the blame for not holding the UFC accountable for fighter pay.

Brown admits that he never fought against the UFC about his pay during his career. He explains that arguing with the UFC probably wouldn't have gotten him anywhere good, and that publicly sticking up for them is the best strategy for fighters. Brown also acknowledges that the lack of a union to represent MMA's athletes is a significant issue, but he believes that a league-specific union would be complicated to implement due to the global nature of MMA. Brown offers advice to aspiring UFC fighters, urging them to view the UFC as a stage to magnify their brand and make money in other ways. He hopes that the situation will change in the future, allowing fighters to retire just off their off their UFC earnings.

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