Dana White scoffs at UFC fighter pay compared to WNBA players making $270K minimum: ‘That’s ridiculous’

Dana White has dismissed concerns about UFC fighter compensation being below WNBA player salaries, calling the comparison "ridiculous." The WNBA recently secured a collective bargaining agreement that guarantees players a minimum of $270,000 annually, a dramatic increase from the prior floor of $66,000.

By contrast, UFC fighters entering the promotion on standard contracts typically begin at $12,000 per fight with an equal $12,000 win bonus. Even as fighters accumulate wins and secure incremental raises—moving from $12,000/$12,000 to $14,000/$14,000 to $16,000/$16,000 across successive bouts—a fighter could earn only around $84,000 in a single year, less than a third of the WNBA minimum.

White has resisted the idea that the UFC should implement guaranteed annual minimums for fighters, a point of ongoing tension between the promotion and its roster. The disparity underscores a wider debate in combat sports about athlete compensation and the sustainability of careers for lower-tier fighters who struggle to secure multiple high-paying bouts within a calendar year.