When last we saw Heath Herring, he was being beaten mercilessly by Brock Lesnar at UFC 87 in August of 2008.
More than a year and a half later, Lesnar is the UFC's biggest star. But Herring hasn't stepped into the Octagon a single time since then, and he said that's because the UFC, particularly UFC President Dana White, doesn't treat fighters like him right.
"I really don't care too much for them," Herring said of UFC management in an interview with Fight Night Radio on ESPN 1080 in Orlando. "I don't think they care too much for me."
Herring said he thinks the UFC is structured in such a way that the big-name stars make big-time paychecks, and everyone else is left with scraps.
"They've got their guys they want to push, guys they want to market," Herring said of the UFC. "Randy Couture, Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir are the guys they want to push and market. The problem is if you're one of the guys who's not one of their favorites, they want to keep you out of the competition."
Herring said he had some broadcasting opportunities with other MMA promotions, and that the UFC has tried to prevent him from taking part in that.
"I'm trying to make money for myself, feed my family, and these guys are trying to do everything they can to make it impossible for me," Herring said.
According to Herring, training costs and taxes left him with a total paycheck of just $40,000 for his fight with Lesnar.
"With the way the UFC's pay scale and as much as it costs me to get ready for a fight," Herring said, "At the end of the day I made like 40 grand."
That's why Herring says he's now trying to make his living in the film business instead of in the cage.
"If I was getting a little more money and it was worth my while I'd get back into fighting," Herring said. "But right now I'm making more in movies. I've got to look out for number one as far as that goes."
Ultimately, Herring said, he'd like to see the fighters get a bigger slice of the pie.
"These guys are literally making money off our blood, sweat and tears. We don't get any health insurance. If you get hurt training for a fight, you're screwed. It's really kind of crazy," Herring said. "Dana White's got six Ferraris. Hell, I just want one."
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