The numbers that Chase Hooper threw round on social media weren’t simply fighter complaining. The 25-year-old athlete walked followers by precisely why that UFC paycheck disappears sooner than a knockout punch.
Chase Hooper explains Why UFC Pay is Even Decrease Than Folks Suppose
Chase Hooper laid it out easy. Ten p.c goes to coaches, fifteen p.c to managers, thirty p.c to federal taxes, plus one other 5 p.c for state taxes when you dwell someplace that takes a chew. That’s sixty p.c gone earlier than the fighter touches a greenback.
The math gets worse if you notice these percentages stack on the gross quantity. If Hooper makes $100,000 for a struggle, his coach takes $10,000, his supervisor grabs $15,000, and Uncle Sam collects $35,000 between federal and state taxes. That leaves $40,000 from a six-figure payday.
“People don’t realize how quick it goes. 10% to the coaches, 15% to manager, 30% to federal taxes, and another 5% to state income tax if you have that. That’s 60% of the money gone before you even touch it””
Training camps eat into what’s left. Skilled fighters spend between $8,000 to $12,000 getting ready for every bout, protecting fitness center charges, sparring companions, journey, dietary supplements, and specialised teaching. Some elite camps value much more – Khabib Nurmagomedov reportedly spent $1 million on Islam Makhachev’s title struggle preparation.
The coaching fees Hooper mentioned align with industry standards. Most gyms charge between 5-10 percent of a fighter’s purse for training camp services. The fifteen percent management fee he referenced actually represents the lower end – some managers charge up to twenty percent of earnings.
Hooper pointed out something that stings: NFL brokers can solely cost a most of three p.c underneath league laws. The distinction reveals how totally different the enterprise fashions work when fighters haven’t any union safety.
“Management if you’re already in the UFC is an absolute scam. They rarely provide enough value to the fighters. Thankfully I don’t have a manager and am able to save that extra money, but most guys do. It’s wild too considering the max a manager can charge in the NFL is 3%”
Sean O’Malley found a solution that Hooper also uses. O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch handles his management duties, eliminating that fifteen percent cut. Hooper does the same thing, avoiding management fees by having his coach handle those responsibilities.
“It’s a scam. O’Malley is a perfect example of why. His coach does his management and he’s one of the biggest names in the sport and gets favorable matchups because UFC likes him and saw his potential, no extra help needed besides him winning fights.”
The tax situation creates additional headaches. MMA fighters work as independent contractors, meaning no automatic withholdings. They receive full payouts and must set aside money for taxes themselves. Many fighters use business deductions for gym fees, equipment, travel, and medical expenses, but those require proper documentation.
Entry-level UFC fighters face tougher math. Someone making $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win ($24,000 if they win) could end up with less than $10,000 after all expenses. That’s why performance bonuses matter so much – those extra $50,000 checks can double what a fighter actually takes home.
The sponsorship situation makes it worse. Before the UFC’s exclusive apparel deal, fighters could land individual sponsors worth thousands per fight. Now they get small payments from the UFC’s official partners instead.
Hooper talked about he’s “been doing fairly effectively on two fights per yr” and made “greater than lots of people make in a yr getting beat up final weekend.”
The fact examine extends past simply cash. Fighters pay for his or her nook’s journey and lodging. They deal with medical bills not lined by the UFC. They purchase their very own coaching tools and dietary supplements. The prices add up shortly for somebody technically categorized as an unbiased contractor.
