Mike Tyson Humiliates UFC Fighter Salaries: “Biggest Fighters Couldn’t Match My Pay”

Legendary boxer Mike Tyson slams UFC for their lower payment structure in comparison to boxing.

Mike Tyson Humiliates UFC Fighter Salaries: “Biggest Fighters Couldn’t Match My Pay”

Mike Tyson won't fight in UFC because of low pay (via X)

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UFC is undoubtedly the biggest MMA promotion in the world, consistently attracting the most talented fighters and showcasing elite-level competition. Throughout its history, it has created massive pay-per-view superstars such as Conor McGregor, Brock Lesnar, Nate Diaz, and others. However, when compared to boxing’s biggest global icons, the overall level of superstardom in UFC does fall short.

One of the biggest superstars in the world of boxing is the former undisputed heavyweight champion, the legendary Mike Tyson. The veteran fighter has recently returned to professional boxing at the age of 59, facing Jake Paul. In a recent interview, Tyson was asked about potentially fighting in the UFC during his prime, which he immediately rejected.

No! Listen, five of the biggest UFC fighters combined couldn’t match my pay. I want to be the biggest fighter, the biggest purse. I want all that stuff. When Mike Tyson fights, he shuts everything down.

Mike Tyson via Hard Rock Bet

During his prime, Tyson was a massive pay-per-view superstar, selling millions of PPV buys and generating record-breaking gate revenues worldwide. Tyson’s iconic fight against Michael Spinks in Atlantic City generated a massive live gate of $12.3 million from 21,785 attendees. The event grossed nearly $70 million, with Tyson earning a record-breaking purse estimated at an incredible $22 million.

Outside the ring, Tyson’s unpredictable personality, controversies, and charisma turned him into a global spectacle that fascinated millions of fans. Even recently, despite losing to Jake Paul, Tyson reportedly took home $20 million. In comparison to those staggering boxing figures, UFC superstars earn significantly less, even after including pay-per-view shares and bonus earnings.

For most of the promotion’s biggest names, total payouts rarely surpass $10–$15 million throughout their peak fighting years. The only notable exception remains Conor McGregor, whose crossover appeal and global stardom pushed his earnings far beyond others. However, the Irishman’s biggest fight purse, which was $100 million, came when he fought Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match.

Dana White gets heat for not paying UFC fighters enough 

Similar to Mike Tyson’s statement about never fighting in the UFC, multi-division boxing champion Terence Crawford has expressed similar sentiments. Crawford has often emphasized that even the top UFC fighters earn significantly less money compared to elite-level boxing superstars worldwide.

Eddie Hearn slams Dana White
Eddie Hearn slams Dana White (via X)

For this very reason, ‘Bud’ confidently rejected the callout from current UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, prioritizing boxing’s financial rewards. Crawford also competed in Dana White’s highly publicized inaugural boxing event against Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez, drawing massive global attention.

Both fighters reportedly earned around $150 million combined, an amount roughly equivalent to the entire UFC roster’s payouts in 2025. The ongoing debate surrounding fighter pay between boxing and UFC has existed for years, with White frequently receiving criticism. Recently, renowned boxing promoter Eddie Hearn harshly criticized White, slamming him publicly for the glaring pay disparity.

Imagine you said to a star in the UFC, ‘It’s your show, and you’re gonna take 80% of the profit, and we’ll take 20%.’ Imagine how much the UFC fighters would be making—five, six, seven times more than they’re making at the moment.

Eddie Hearn via The Ariel Helwani Show 

The ongoing feud between White and boxing promoter Hearn has intensified dramatically ever since the UFC boss officially entered professional boxing promotion. Hearn has publicly accused White of attempting to alter the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, which protects fighters’ rights with transparency about revenue.

He also revealed plans to directly compete with White’s newly launched boxing promotion, vowing to maintain boxing’s integrity. With reports suggesting that White’s boxing athletes could earn higher paydays than UFC fighters, many wonder how his roster of MMA fighters might respond. 

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