There's a feeling among some mixed martial arts fans that the UFC doesn't pay its fighters enough, and that when Randy Couture left the UFC in a contract dispute, he was fighting a good fight against unfair labor practices.Count Matt Hughes as one fighter who thinks contracts in the UFC are perfectly fair.
At a Q&A session with fans in Chicago today before the UFC 90 weigh-in, Hughes said that if Couture didn't like the terms of the UFC contract, the time to say so was before he agreed to it.
"Randy Couture signed that contract," Hughes said.
Hughes added that once you've established yourself as a high-quality fighter, the UFC will reward you: "The only guys complaining about money are the kids with six to 10 fights who haven't fought a lot."
Of course, Couture was complaining about money, too -- at least until this summer, when he gave up his yearlong quest to get out of his UFC deal and agreed to come back and fight again, starting with Brock Lesnar at UFC 91. Hughes seems to think Couture was foolish ever to leave.
And Hughes also thinks Couture is going to lose in his first fight back. Asked about the Couture-Lesnar fight, Hughes said that he respects Couture as a fighter and would never bet against him, but if he has to pick, he picks Lesnar.
"The younger, stronger, better wrestler right now is going to win," Hughes said.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt may have won a prize for being the nicest jerk on a microphone this year. I guess when your down like Hughes, you might as well try to make everyone feel like you.
Take it from a guy who's been overrated...
Matt is lucky Dana likes him or else he wouldn't be fighting any longer...
I do agree with matt that since he signed the contract he should honor it
but i truly do think mma fighters are not getting there fair share of the revenues. The fact that UFC is the only major promotions makes the other fighters not have much of barganning power
well they get paid a lot more than the average guy on the street-its tough being a fighter but its also tough being a regular guy -so get what you can and dont complain -your making a living doing something you love -just remember theres people out there who arent doing what they love and for a hell of alot less man
difference is there is thousands of fans at UFC events
there are not thousands of fans to see me program or to see the butcher cut meat. I dont think you can compare to average people because the average person cannot do what mma fighters do
It's the "Fight Game" Nothing has ever been fair about it. Pay is always chiseled away by greedy managers and owners. The fighters fight every time with the possibility of total disability injury or death. Don't they deserve a fair piece of the pie? Their managers sell out when negotiating, and stick it to the fighter who is concerned with training and conditioning while the fat cats split the pie. Nothing will ever change here. My advice is fight till you get comfortable money and do something else. Brain damage is not worth the money.
when you dance with the devil ,you dont let the devil lead,you lead!! all you guys that saidrandy,souldn,t honor his contract ,are the reason the country is in the shape it is in no body wants to take responiblity for there actions...grow up losers!!!!
People were just stating their opinion about the wages of fighters ... besides, no one said that "Randy shouldn't honor his contract".
We're not the losers, your the loser - you big fat poo poo head loser face ... had to stoop to your level for a second there! Sorry for the foul language everyone.
Its the way it goes down. Not just boxing but all the fight game is the same. if you a fighter then you fight all the way to top. once at the top you get the big stacks to sign. contracts are all about using us to fight who they want to put against you to sell.
Brock you know whats up. You put in work son...go get that belt.- Mike