[quote name='paz9x']the internets rumor, based on starnes comments, is basically he planned on that because of his last fight with alan belcher resulted in his head getting split open and apparently the UFC made him foot all the medical bills.
kinda gay, though if thats true about them not hooking up fighters with some $ for injuries the UFC needs to change that.[/QUOTE]
[quote name='CouRageouS']Well all fighters are individually contracted by Zuffa and are paid per fight. Set amount to show, bonus to win. It would be on him and his representatives to secure some sort of medical benefits in his contract. Its likely only the high profile fighters get any benefits. Also a good chunk of their income comes from sponsoring. Some fighters can get an obscene amount of money to wear a logo on their trunks/entrance attire.[/QUOTE]
The problem is the vast majority of fighters don't make much from sponsorships, and don't make much from fighting. Most can barely afford to even be fighters (food, shelter, gym, supplements, medical bills) on the amount they make. That's why you see like auto dealerships and body shops advertising on fighters who aren't in the main event (barring TapOut which is notorious for small sponsorships, why Matt Serra dumped them as soon as he could)
check
http://www.mmapayout.com to get an idea of how little it is.
Here's Randy Couture talking about it in a recent interview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZBHvt_j-D8
For instance, when he got his ass handed to him by Belcher he only made $7,000
http://www.mmapayout.com/2007/10/ufc-77-payouts.html
Not that I'm trying to defend the guy. If he was going to act like that he shouldn't have even showed up. He should just find a different job.
It would really help the sport if the
"Ultimate Cash Machine" would follow the lead of other professional sports and provide at the minimum health care. NFL has top notch health care and even after the players retire they're taken care of.
I'm hoping that EliteXC on network TV & DREAM & Affliction on HDNet Fights can put the pressure on to elevate the sport. EliteXC is still sort of a joke in my mind though. DREAM has been good so far. & Affliction looks to have the best cards of the year; Barnett is back, Fedor, Couture, Sylvia, Lindland, etc..
[quote name='paz9x']dream 1 is airing tonight on hdnet at 730pst
dream 2 is on tomorrow night at 730 pst.
hot shit.[/QUOTE]
http://hdnetfights.com/mmaonhdnet.php
LIVE!
Sun. May. 11 3:00 AM ET DREAM 3
Catch the second round of the DREAM lightweight tournament exclusively on HDNet! Eight fighters will enter the Saitama Super Arena in Japan and four will advance. Four of the participating lightweights ranked in the top ten in the world by Inside MMA.
Aoki will be fighting in DREAM 4 though do to an injury from the second JZ fight. Bruised rib i think.