“Stingiest company” – Fans furious as UFC 315 Jack Della Maddalena forced to start fundraiser ahead of PPV event

UFC 315 title challenger Jack Della Maddalena announces a fundraiser in order to pay for team expenses ahead of Canada PPV event.


“Stingiest company” – Fans furious as UFC 315 Jack Della Maddalena forced to start fundraiser ahead of PPV event

Jack Della Maddalena to do fundraiser ahead of UFC 315 title fight against Belal Muhammad (via Imago/X)

Jack Della Maddalena will be fighting for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 315 against Belal Muhammad. Making his first title defense, Muhammad aims to solidify his reign with a dominant performance against the Australian contender. Going into the fight, Della Maddalena is the underdog, but it seems like that isn’t the only concern for the challenger.

UFC 315 will take place on May 10 at the  Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada, and has a considerable amount of hype. Ahead of the fight, Jack Dell Maddalena has announced a Fundraiser Dinner for his Australian fans in Perth. The Aussie fighter talked about an opportunity for fans to get close and have conversations with him about his upcoming fight. 

YouTube video

According to the post, the tickets will be $150 and $250 for the VIP experience. This will include meet and greet with a photo and a signed poster. The post also suggested that the profit from the tickets will go towards getting a full team out to Montreal. It also talked about how the UFC only pays for 6 days accommodation and flights for 2 team members.

Since then, the post has gone viral, drawing massive attention from UFC fans and sparking heated discussions. As expected, the reaction hasn’t been entirely positive, putting the UFC in a difficult position amid growing controversy. With only five weeks remaining until the fight, expectations surrounding Della Maddalena have skyrocketed as fans eagerly anticipate his performance. 

Fight fans react to Jack Della Maddalena’s fundraiser announcement ahead of UFC 315

Jack Della Maddalena earned his title shot against Belal Muhammad due to an impressive winning streak and frequent dominant performances. He made his way to the UFC via Dana White‘s Contender Series and is currently on a seven-fight win streak. His consistent finishes and ability to excite fans made him a compelling contender that the UFC couldn’t ignore

Jack Della Maddalena vs. Belal Muhammad at UFC 315
Jack Della Maddalena vs. Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 (via X)

Initially, it was Shavkat Rakhmonov who was intended to fight Belal Muhammad. However, after his injury, the UFC had to find a replacement. With few clear challengers available, the promotion saw him as the perfect fresh matchup for Muhammad’s first title defense. Nevertheless, here are reactions from fight fans after Della Maddalena announced the fundraiser for UFC 315.

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As expected, the fans were angry and slammed the UFC for being cheap and not helping their fighters enough. Some compared this system with other combat sports and talked about how other top fighters were treated.

UFC’s controversial fighter pay system 

UFC fighters earn relatively low pay compared to other major sports due to the UFC’s business model. The UFC operates as a monopoly with no fighters’ union, allowing it to keep fighter pay at around 15-20 % of revenue. This is much lower than the 50% seen in the NBA or NFL. Fighters also lack guaranteed contracts and must cover expenses like training, coaching, and medical costs. 

UFC problem with fighters' pay
UFC problem with fighters’ pay (via Imago)

Sponsorship opportunities declined after the UFC’s exclusive deals with brands like Reebok and Venum. Unlike boxing, where fighters negotiate large purses, UFC athletes are often locked into restrictive contracts. This limits their ability to demand higher pay as they grow in the promotion. While top superstars like Conor McGregor, Jon Jones make a hefty paycheck, the same cannot be said about other fighters.

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