Dana White Says UFC Fighters Hide Pay to Avoid 'Handouts', Cites Concern Over Public Reaction

UFC president Dana White told Vegas PBS that many fighters do not want fans to know how much they are paid because public knowledge could prompt people to seek "handouts."

"There's no gag order on any of these fighters. They could all sit down and do full interviews on how much they make and what they were paid," White said. "When people find out what you made, it makes life a lot tougher. There are a lot of people sitting around looking for handouts when they find out you made millions of dollars."

White has long been a vocal defender of the promotion's business model and compensation structure. The remarks come amid ongoing scrutiny of how the Ultimate Fighting Championship distributes revenue to fighters, a debate intensified by the company's rapid growth and a recently reported nearly-$8 billion media-rights deal with Paramount.

Critics and some former fighters contend that UFC competitors receive a smaller share of total revenue than athletes in other major sports leagues and that pay has not scaled in line with the company's expanding business. In 2014, former fighters filed a class-action antitrust suit in federal court in Las Vegas alleging the company used long-term exclusive contracts, coercion and acquisitions of rival promoters to limit competition and suppress compensation.

That litigation ultimately resulted in a $375 million settlement last year. The case and its settlement have been cited repeatedly in discussions about fighter pay and the structure of athlete compensation in mixed martial arts.

White's comments emphasized personal responsibility and privacy, arguing fighters can choose to make their pay public but frequently decline to do so. The UFC president, whose net worth has been estimated at about $500 million, has overseen the promotion through a period of significant expansion that included the multi-billion-dollar media rights deal and high-profile events such as UFC 300.

Supporters of greater transparency and higher compensation for fighters have pointed to the scale of revenues generated by pay-per-view events, streaming agreements and sponsorships. They say fighter pay should more closely reflect the business's growth and the risks athletes assume in the sport. The UFC and its leadership maintain that compensation is influenced by individual contracts, pay-per-view participation, performance bonuses and the drawing power of specific athletes.

The conversation over fighter pay has also intersected with broader issues in sports labor relations, including how revenues are divided among owners, executives and athletes; the role of collective bargaining in other sports; and the legal framework that governs contracts in combat sports.

White's remarks to Vegas PBS did not include new policy changes or proposals for compensation adjustments. He reiterated that disclosure of pay is a personal decision for fighters and that the organization does not bar athletes from speaking publicly about their earnings.

As debate continues, stakeholders across the sport — including current and former fighters, promoters, legal advocates and media partners — remain engaged in discussions about transparency, contract structure and the distribution of revenue. The 2014 lawsuit and its settlement have become reference points in those debates, and public comments from figures such as White are likely to shape perceptions as the industry evolves.

No official figures were released by the UFC in connection with White's remarks; the company has previously cited confidentiality around individual contracts while also publicizing certain disclosed purses and bonuses tied to specific events. Observers say future developments in media rights, regulatory scrutiny and athlete advocacy could influence how compensation and disclosure practices change over time.