TJ Dillashaw shares shockingly small UFC pay after winning first title fight vs. Renan Barao

Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw became the latest legendary fighter to highlight the promotion’s questionable pay.

UFC fighter pay remains a hot-button issue in modern Mixed Martial Arts conversations. After former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones reversed his retirement for a potential return at the upcoming White House event, before UFC CEO Dana White shut it down on repeated instances.

After missing out on the UFC Freedom 250 card, Jones took to social media to claim the UFC financially ‘lowballed’ him in a reported offer to fight Alex Pereira. According to Jones, he was offered $15 million to fight Pereira, but wanted a figure in the $30 million range.

Fighter pay was recently highlighted after White and Zuffa Boxing paid boxing star Conor Benn a lucrative, one-fight deal. Israel Adesanya was one of several big-name fighters to question White’s insistence on paying Benn an eight-figure contract while many UFC fighters struggle to make ends meet.

According to former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw, fighter pay has been an issue for years, as he shared a first-hand experience.

TJ Dillashaw says he was paid $18,000 for a short-notice title win at UFC 173

In a recent appearance on the JAXXON Podcast, Dillashaw went into how he was financially compensated during his career and revealed a startling figure.

“I was on The Ultimate Fighter contract, I was fighting for a world title for $18,000,” Dillashaw shared. “I got to rip that contract up. You’re on a 10-fight contract when you get on from The Ultimate Fighter. I was getting paid $18,000 to show and $18,000 to win. You start off at $10,000 and $10,000.

“After three wins, you go to $14,000 and $14,000. After three [more] wins, you go to $18,000 and $18,000. So, I was getting paid $18,000 to show and $18,000 to win against the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.” (h/t Bloody Elbow)

Dillashaw stepped in on short notice to defeat then-UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao at UFC 173 by TKO. He went on to become one of the greatest bantamweights in UFC history, earning wins vs. top names like Cory Sandhagen, Cody Garbrandt, and a rematch victory against Barao.

What are your thoughts on the UFC’s fighter pay model? Let us know in the comments!