Dana White responds to Justin Gaethje’s dispute over pay increase at UFC 324

UFC CEO Dana White says Justin Gaethje turned down a pay increase at UFC 324 after the UFC star’s viral remarks at media day.

Justin Gaethje is hours away from potentially earning another interim lightweight championship against the surging Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324.

Gaethje and Pimblett headline a stacked card this Saturday in Las Vegas to mark the UFC’s long-awaited return from hiatus. The co-main event features a pivotal bantamweight bout between former titleholder Sean O’Malley and Song Yadong.

Ahead of UFC 324, Gaethje made some interesting claims about his pay amidst the UFC’s new broadcasting partnership with Paramount+. Daniel Cormier and UFC CEO Dana White have both said that fighter pay will increase moving forward with Paramount, but Gaethje claimed he’s not earning ‘one dollar more’ compared to his previous payday.

According to White, it’s Gaethje’s fault he isn’t earning more money this weekend at UFC 324.

Dana White: Justin Gaethje turned down pay increase before making viral comments

In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, White responded to Gaethje’s remarks.

“We completely have it dialed in,” White said.

“We have really smart kids who can get it down within single digits on how close it would be to pay (fighters) like it was a pay-per-view.

“And Gaethje, without getting into all that stuff, Gaethje was offered more money, and Gaethje never responded. We’re good.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

As of this writing, neither Gaethje nor his manager has responded to White’s recent remarks.

Gaethje is on the tail-end of his UFC career after a legendary career in the cage. If he isn’t victorious this weekend against Pimblett, Gaethje could potentially hang up the gloves, as he’s repeatedly hinted in recent weeks.

Gaethje’s pay dispute is the latest point of tension between him and the UFC brass over the past year. After defeating Rafael Fiziev in his previous fight at UFC 313, Gaethje gave the UFC a ‘title shot or bust’ ultimatum, to which White didn’t respond kindly.