Gegard Mousasi blasts UFC for pay structure

UFC middleweight Gegard Mousasi is one of the most experienced fighters in the UFC. With 49 professional MMA fights, Mousasi has compiled an impressive 41-6 record over the course of his fourteen year professional career, which saw him fight for numerous high-profile promotions such as Pride FC, M-1, Strikeforce, and the UFC to name just a few.

With that being said, Mousasi feels that at this point in his career, he should be getting paid as much as his fellow MMA veterans.

He spoke to Fight Society:

“I just see that Vitor Belfort is making tons more money than me. I defeated Dan Henderson, he’s making tons more money than me. I defeated Mark Hunt. How is it possible Mark Hunt is making $800,000 with a record of 10-10? Look at my record. How the fuck is that possible? It comes all down to this fight. That’s why I trained so hard for this fight. It’s not because I want to beat Chris Weidman. It’s because I need to get paid, and I’m going to get paid. That’s what I’m going to do.”

Mousasi is referring to his 2009 scrap with UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt under the Dream amber, where Mousasi picked up a 1st round armbar win over the heavy handed Hunt. The second point Mousasi made regarding his pay in comparison to Vitor Belfort’s, stems from Belfort making $315,000 at UFC 204 where the pair fought. In comparison, for the same fight, Mousasi only made $130,000, $40,000 of which was included in his ‘win bonus’ whereas Belfort made $300,000 simply to show.

Mousasi of course is currently gearing up to fight former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman this Saturday at UFC 210, where he hopes to move one step closer to a middleweight title shot as he enters into 2017 with incredible momentum from 2016.

on 4/4/2017.