Lorenzo Fertitta Speaks On Giving Fighters Bonus Money
by Kelvin Hunt on Mar 6, 2009 1:45 PM EST
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Lorenzo Fertitta Speaking To Fighter's Only Magazine:
"(...it's) no different than if I have an employee at the end of the year, he's making a salary but I also give him Christmas bonuses or discretionary bonuses if I feel like they had a good year and did a good job. It's really the same thing," Fertitta said. "We sit down and say `You know what, I think this guy deserves a bonus for doing this or a bonus for doing that. He really tried hard tonight, even though he may not have won...I guarantee you that we are the only promoter in the history of the world that's paid people more than they're contracted for. And it's just part of the company culture.'"
Many of the hardcore fans have always been critical of fighter pay, and in some cases it's definitely justified and I hope it continues to get better. However, with the way the UFC does things nowadays, you don't know who's being paid what. Since the UFC is a private company they have the right to not share information about these 'undisclosed bonuses'. I applaud them handing out these bonuses though.
You could have a fighter that's making his UFC debut and nobody knows who he is. No casual fan is coming to check for him, and he's not going to bring Zuffa any type of revenue so to speak. Yet, he comes in and fights his heart out. Only to make the contracted 4K to show and 4K to win(or whatever the contract is for). However, the guys at Zuffa recognize that effort and reward him with an undisclosed bonus. That's what's up in my book. Thoughts?
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i agee completely. plus not to mention the fact how much money these fighters make from sponsers, alot more than any other org i would think. i think even the mid-level guys are making a good living and are not just scrapping by, due in a large part to these bonuses. iwould actually love to know what exactly the fighters are making though. i think alot of people would be surprised.
lol, both he and Alves need one IMHO…those bonuses should be deducted from BJ’s check…it’s all his fault!
http://www.mmaforreal.com
And take away from his Poi funds? You’re just mean! lol
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Mar 6, 2009 3:43 PM EST up reply actions
I hate when people bash these guys saying they underpay fighters, when they dont even know the whole story.
...some call me "el mexicutioner"...
kieth jardine comes to mind. alot of other fighters use him as an example of ufc fighters being underpaid, but in every video or written interview, when asked, he says that the ufc takes very good care of him. so if jardine is happy with his pay, nobady else should mention him. i think it was tito who brought up kieth after kieth’s fight with wandi, saying that kieth only made 10k for that fight and that would hardly cover medical expenses. well i know for a fact that the ufc pays for injuries and rehab afterward for every injury that occurs while fighting. i wish the reporter would have asked tito if the ufc had ever paid for his medical expenses that happened during a fight, but he didn’t have the balls.
by bdw on Mar 6, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions
Also, Jardine had renegotiated his contract prior to the fight with Wandy. So Tito was incorrect as usual.
http://www.mmaforreal.com
just finished.
i’m waiting to see if kelvin is going to make a post. i’m sure he will. vera looked phenomenal
by bdw on Mar 6, 2009 4:26 PM EST up reply actions
gonzaga seems like he gains about 2 or 3 pounds every fight. seemed like he weighed 248 for cro-cop.
by bdw on Mar 6, 2009 4:31 PM EST up reply actions
anybody seen watchmen yet? i’m getting ready to go see it in a few.
by bdw on Mar 6, 2009 4:28 PM EST up reply actions
I think it’s great that they give out discretionary bonuses. it will motivate the fighters to put on a good, exciting fight. if you come out, fight very cautious and ’don’t leave it all in the cage’ you can walk home with your contracted pay.
i could see a fighter getting mad if he didn’t get a bonus for a fight when he thought he deserved one, though. if a fighter wins 3 fights in a row and the first two he got a $15K bonus and then the third he only got $10 he might feel entitled to that extra $5K. i’m sure they are just thankful for the opportunity when they aren’t well established in the sport, though.
it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why undercard fights win a lot of the disclosed bonuses…..those guys can go from getting $10K for a win to $85K if they win a KO or SUB of the night. it is great motivation to go out there and fight hard. I really like the motivation that the bonuses give fighters….cuts down on people just coasting for paychecks.
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