<blockquote>Ghenghis - They do pay better than any other promotion in the world. From the top all the way down to the dudes making 6/6. People insist on comparing MMA salaries to other sports when there is no relevant comparison. Just because Dana White likes to throw out tons of hyperbole and compare the UFC to the NFL doesn't mean it's true. Is the UFC the NFL of MMA?? Undoubtedly.... is the UFC comparable to the NFL... not even close. And your list is not accurate as well. There are things in there that the UFC does pay for, as well as travel $$ for a corner man. And I still fail to see how your arbitrary number of 80-100k a year makes sense. Why shouldn't it be 50k a year? 4 wins at 6/6= 48k + bonus' + sponsorship $$ > top 10% of Americans.</blockquote>
My "arbitrary number" would mean that after paying their expenses they would bring home about 45-50 a year. Your arbitrary figure of 50 would mean they'd clear about 20.
Suddenly my numbers seem less arbitrary.
You're not comparing like to like. Fighters aren't employees, they're independent contractors. I suspect you don't understand the distinction between the two.
As an employee, the company provides materials and you provide labor.
As an independent contractor, you're basically a one man company. You provide all materials. You travel to and from the job without reimbursement unless specified in the contract. You operate on your own. Comparing the salaries of employees who simply have to show up to work with someone who is responsible for the continual training, nutrition, health, travel, training equipment of his own self is disingenuous.
Also, including the sponsor money, which the fighter is completely responsible for hustling for, is like your boss paying you shit because you're free to beg on the street. They "could" hit the lottery...that doesn't mean its part of their pay. Your earnings are unlimited, right? Well tell me how much sponsor money a guy gets who's only worth 6/6 to the UFC? Exactly. Logically their value to the sponsors would be equal in proportion to their value to the UFC.
By the way, your generous 4 wins at 6/6 is exactly that...four WINS. Say they go 2-2. Your very generous big league salary suddenly drops 12k. Are they still wealthy? You also seem to have made no consideration of taxes.
Are you claiming that Zuffa pays travel/board for 6/6 guys and their corners? You got a source for that?
Why don't you point out the "things" in my list that are incorrect?
Edited to fix plot holes and spelling errors.