This has been a big year for the UFC. Already sold for a reported $4 billion, on Nov. 12, it makes its New York City debut at storied Madison Square Garden. (Its arrival had long been delayed because of the state’s ban on the UFC, which ended only with the arrest and conviction of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on corruption charges.) Featherweight champion Conor McGregor stands to make mixed martial arts history as he seeks to win another title in a second weight class.
Yet there are also concerns about the UFC. That massive sale price has actually led to the fight promotion shrinking, not growing. There are plans to fire up to 80 employees from its staff of approximately 350. (While the UFC hasn’t confirmed a specific number, a source stated it should be “less than 15 percent of our workforce.”) Many fighters are already embittered by a Reebok endorsement deal that limited their ability to find sponsors of their own. (Most fighters estimate that this deal will cost them thousands each fight.)
ESPN.com reached out to a range of fighters and managers to discuss how they’re feeling about the UFC at what should be a triumphant moment in its history. As usual with those critical of the UFC, they generally gave their feedback anonymously. (Most fighters count on bonuses from the promotion: To be too outspoken is to risk missing a needed check.)
In general, there is pride in the fact the UFC could be purchased for just $2 million in 2001 and be sold for a price 2,000 times higher in a mere 15 years. Yet there’s a sense that, beyond original owners the Fertitta brothers and UFC president Dana White, the rest of them have been left out of the windfall. As one fighter said (without being named):
“The genius part of what the UFC did is they were able to write all these different responsibilities into the same contract. And they can provide additional opportunities or take them away. No matter how good you are at one thing, they can pull you off in a second and replace you with someone else. We’re all just spokes on a wheel.”
For a portrait of the tensions in a sport that’s seemingly just entered its prime, click here. Below, watch a promo for UFC 205 that features a variety of stars (including Mr. McGregor, who is easily the best paid man in the sport and in the past has earned roughly as much as the other 23 fighters sharing the card with him) dramatically arriving at the Garden.
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